Hardwood hero becomes gridiron star

Devante Gray can power up an entire gym with his no-look passes, high-wire dunks and lightning-quick moves. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound McDonough guard is a three-year varsity player who can drop double digits in points and assists every night. But last fall the hardwood hero took his game outdoors - to the gridiron.

"I played football my freshman year and I decided to try it again," said Gray, a junior. "At first it was just something to do during the offseason. I knew most of the players on the team and they were always talking about football. Our safety Timothy Ingram introduced me to the coach, and I started working out with the team. I really enjoyed being with the guys; I started to like the game again."

Gray made the right decision. As a defensive end, he recorded 62 tackles and ranked among the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference leaders with 13.5 sacks. Evidently natural grass, cleats and pads couldn't slow down Mr. Basketball.

"He was a big surprise; we didn't know he'd do this for us as a junior," admitted McDonough coach Luke Ethington. "When he first said he wanted to play I didn't take him seriously … But Devante was serious. He hit the gym, he came out for workouts and he fully committed to football."

Gray's natural ability impressed the Rams' coaching staff, but his technique and on-field instincts were noticeably raw. Talent alone couldn't compensate for poor footwork. Gray, in his desire to improve, listened intently to his coaches. They helped mold him into a football player.

Meanwhile, Gray started adding bulk. He built his body from that of a toothpick-thin guard to a muscular defensive end. He's still filling out, but his bench press has risen to a respectable 250 pounds and his squat to 350.

Gray may have needed strength and technique training, but his talent was never in question. At 6-foot-1 and 210-pounds with 4.6 speed, Gray seemed destined to wreak havoc in backfields.

"His physical toolkit is pretty much complete," Ethington said. "He's very strong, he's fast, and plus he's a basketball player - he can stand right underneath the rim and dunk -- so he's got the vertical tools, too.

"He's so rangy and quick he could probably play linebacker or even safety if he wanted to," Ethington continued. "And his hands are so good and so big he'll probably play slot receiver for us next year."

Gray's versatility is duly noted. But in 2009 he had his hand in the dirt on almost every down. By Week 1, Gray had earned the starting defensive end job, surpassing two seniors on the depth chart. Gray didn't disappoint.

In his first game against Potomac, he wore out the right tackle with his speed. Gray finished with four tackles and notched the first two sacks of his career. A week later he matched that number against a tough Westlake team. After one month, Gray had five sacks.

"I didn't expect that at all," Gray said. "I mean I was a basketball player… I didn't think I would start much less perform that well. I figured I'd work hard my junior year and then maybe get a chance to start my senior year."

Gray progressed steadily, reaching a peak against SMAC rival Lackey in Week 6. In a 41-12 McDonough drubbing, Gray recorded six tackles and a career-high four sacks.

"He was just coming off the edge like nobody's business," Ethington said. "He stepped up in a big game; he didn't crawl into his shell. That was his rite of passage, and at that point we knew he was legit."

"It was a rivalry game and I was really focused," Gray said. "I didn't want the Lackey players to walk around talking about how they beat us."

Gray notched four more sacks and even returned an interception for a touchdown over the season's last four weeks. He spurred a defense that didn't allow more than two touchdowns in a game all year. The Rams finished the season at 7-3, which qualified them for the playoffs.

But then came the nadir.

In the regional semifinals against Gwynn Park, Gray had his worst performance of the season, according to his coach. The Yellow Jackets were the first team with linemen who could match Gray's athleticism and negate his speed. The Rams gave up a season-high 28 points and lost 28-25.

"Devante got exposed a little bit against Gwynn Park," Ethington said. "He's got good 40 speed but he can work on his football speed a little bit."

Gray agreed … for the most part.

"Yeah, I only had one sack that game," he said. "But I do need to improve. I need to be able to go hard every single play. This offseason, after basketball, I'm getting back in the weight room and I'm going to get faster and stronger. I expect to have a great senior year."

A repeat of 2009 would all but assure Gray of a Division I or I-AA scholarship. He has already started receiving mail from at least one BCS school. On top of that, scouts have told Ethington his superstar defensive end has top-level talent.

"I've talked to a lot of college coaches and they know talent better than I do," Ethington said. "They tell me this kid has got it. He's got the upside Division I schools are looking for."

But does Gray even want to play college football? After all, he is a wizard with the basketball.

"After what I did last year I'm looking to continue with football," Gray said. "I fell in love with the game again and I want to keep playing."