Deante' Gray is a senior football player for TCU who is preparing for his comeback season after suffering a knee injury last year. Gray says being back practicing feels great and like he is a normal football player again. His goals for his final season include making it the best year possible, mentoring younger players, and winning a national championship. Gray is motivated to push himself to greatness after his past successful seasons and injury setback. He wants to leave a legacy of working hard in all aspects of the game and being dedicated to the team.

1. Deante’ Gray
From his record performances in his first two years on the team, tohis year long hiatus because of a
knee injury, everyone this season has theireyes on senior, Deante’ Gray.
In talking to Deante’ you would never figure that he has been out of the gamefor a whole season. When
speaking of his knee injury that kept him from the field his junior year, he says, “It feels great; it’sbeen a
long time coming. That yearfelt so long and just to be back on the field practicing and going through
everything againit’s like I’ma normal football player. It’sreally exciting.” This setback did not stop Gray
from remaining a hugeasset to the teamand he is ready to attackthis new season.
For his last season, Gray has some goals that keep him focused. Henoted, “Reallyas a senior it’s to
make it thebest yearpossible. I want to use my senior platform as a wayto mentor the younger players
and show them theproper wayto work and how to lead. And what I really want is a national
championship, of course.”
As Gray prepares for this comeback season, he uses his past season’s as a Horned Frog to motivate
himself to greatness. His journey to become a Horned Frog canbe tracedto a former teammember as
well. “Originally, it was coming down to the wire. B.J. Catalon he was here alreadyand he kept telling
me to come talk to thecoach and send him my highlights. Once I sent them TCU called me up for a visit
a week before signing day. And I got here and I just loved it. When I got my offer I committed right on
the spot.”
Signing with TCU was Gray’sfirst step in a great career. Inhis first gameas a true freshman playing for
TCU, Gray returneda punt witha 70-yard touchdown on his first collegiatetouch in the season opener
against Grambling State. He wasalso able to step up and play defense in a 2013 gameversus Iowa State.
When reminiscing about the game, Graysaid, “It’sdefinitely different. I like to say I got the best of both
worlds. I got to actually be engaged with coachPatterson and his team24/7 and I got to witness first-
hand how seriously he takes it and the expectations he has for his defense.”
His mindset for this season is to leave a strong legacyfor the younger players. Gray says, “I want to be
rememberedas thedude who worked hard on all aspects of theball. Rememberedas someone who
didn’t hesitateon whether to make a play or do special teams or anything like that. I just want to show
the younger players that it was all for the team, that’sthe kind of legacyI want to leave.” He speaks
highly of the opportunities TCU has given him as well and wants younger players to know, “I definitely
like tosay you get out what you put in. The classroom, the field, everything. You know nothing is given
but there area lot of resources that will help you fight through your strugglesand this and that. Just
know that using those resources to help you maximizeyour potential in theclassroom and on the field.”
Deante’ Grayisn’t just the spirit of Horned Frog Football. Heis dedicated on and off the field and is truly
the player all of TCU can aspire to.