Photo by: UofM Athletic Media Relations
Earnest Gray Induction to Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Set for Saturday
Jun 17, 2016 | Football
Former wide receiver still ranks third in career receiving yards.
MEMPHIS – Former wide receiver Earnest Gray will be inducted in to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Saturday, in Nashville. Gray, who played for then-Memphis State from 1975-78, went on to play seven seasons in the NFL, suiting up with the New York Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals.
A native of Greenwood, Mississippi, Gray came to Memphis State in 1975 and left the Tigers as the program's all-time leading receiver. Even now, Gray's mark of 2,123 career yards receiving still ranks third in program history, behind just Duke Calhoun (2,981 yards) and Carlos Singleton (2,365 yards).
Gray played all four years at Memphis, capping his career with 44 career games played, 97 career catches and 17 career touchdowns. In 1977, as a junior, he finished with 28 catches for 826 yards, earning the first of back-to-back All-South Independent honors. He would earn honorable mention All-American honors from the Associated Press in 1977 and earned Football News All-America first team honors as a senior in 1978. He then participated in the 1979 Senior Bowl before being drafted in to the NFL.
Gray was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 1979 draft as the 36th overall pick, joining quarterback Phil Simms as the Giants draftees that season. In 1980, his second season in the league, Gray had 10 touchdown catches, including a team-record four touchdown catches against the Cardinals.
In 1983, his fifth year in New York, he combined with Simms for 78 receptions, then a Giants' record.
He played six seasons with the Giants and spent his final NFL season, 1985, with St. Louis. In all, he appeared in 90 NFL games, with 69 starts, and finished with 246 catches for 3,790 career yards and 27 career touchdowns.
Following his retirement from football, Gray returned to Memphis and joined the City of Memphis Fire Department. He continues to serve with the Memphis Fire Department as a lieutenant in the OSHA office.
He was inducted in to the M Club Hall of Fame in 1991.
The 50th Anniversary Banquet for the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame will be held Saturday at the Omni Hotel in Nashville.
A native of Greenwood, Mississippi, Gray came to Memphis State in 1975 and left the Tigers as the program's all-time leading receiver. Even now, Gray's mark of 2,123 career yards receiving still ranks third in program history, behind just Duke Calhoun (2,981 yards) and Carlos Singleton (2,365 yards).
Gray played all four years at Memphis, capping his career with 44 career games played, 97 career catches and 17 career touchdowns. In 1977, as a junior, he finished with 28 catches for 826 yards, earning the first of back-to-back All-South Independent honors. He would earn honorable mention All-American honors from the Associated Press in 1977 and earned Football News All-America first team honors as a senior in 1978. He then participated in the 1979 Senior Bowl before being drafted in to the NFL.
Gray was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 1979 draft as the 36th overall pick, joining quarterback Phil Simms as the Giants draftees that season. In 1980, his second season in the league, Gray had 10 touchdown catches, including a team-record four touchdown catches against the Cardinals.
In 1983, his fifth year in New York, he combined with Simms for 78 receptions, then a Giants' record.
He played six seasons with the Giants and spent his final NFL season, 1985, with St. Louis. In all, he appeared in 90 NFL games, with 69 starts, and finished with 246 catches for 3,790 career yards and 27 career touchdowns.
Following his retirement from football, Gray returned to Memphis and joined the City of Memphis Fire Department. He continues to serve with the Memphis Fire Department as a lieutenant in the OSHA office.
He was inducted in to the M Club Hall of Fame in 1991.
The 50th Anniversary Banquet for the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame will be held Saturday at the Omni Hotel in Nashville.
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