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UCLA made a strong push for Hebron High of Lewisville (Tex.) offensive lineman Joel Gray, but he decided to stay with his original commitment, Texas Tech, rather than switch.
Gray was very grateful for the time UCLA spent recruiting him, and was complimentary about the Bruins program. He wanted to me to convey he had nothing bad to say about UCLA.
"The recruiting with UCLA was up and running pretty quick, and (with Texas Tech) it was built over time,'' Gray said. "UCLA started recruiting me in September, and Texas Tech has been recruiting me since before since my sophomore year of high school. The first time I talked to (UCLA) coach (Rick) Neuheisel was September.
"They came on hard and strong. UCLA definitely put some thoughts in my head and sent me a letter of intent, and looking at that made me think about some stuff."
Also, Gray wanted to dispel rumors he wanted to go to UCLA but his parents wanted him to stay closer to home and attend Texas Tech.
"That's nothing but a rumor. There's no truth to it," Gray said. "They told me they were going to come see me play even if it was in Alaska or the north pole."
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
too bad we couldn't get him, he sounds like a very smart guy...best of luck to him in the future
It was nice of him to say that he nothing bad to say about UCLA. I wish we could have gotten him.
Sounds like a really good kid. Best of luck to him at TT!
Best of luck Joel! Maybe we'll see you in a Holiday Bowl sometime soon!
Best of luck to Joel at TT - sorry he's not going to be a Bruin. Sounds like the coaching staff made a good run at him. They'll start falling our way...
Sounds like a very nice, well thought and spoken kid. Brian, please let him know the entire Bruin Nation wishes him the best and that we appreciate his sincere consideration. I love that CRN went after him hard. It looks like if anybody he knows ever asked him about UCLA, he would give a great reference. This is what is most important as we rebuild.
What an incredibly classy dude. Best of luck to him at TT!
Mike Leach and the Red Raiders are getting a quality kid.
Sounds like a good guy indeed. Other than him sounding classy, the part I enjoyed the most about his quotes were how CRN went after him hard. Difficult to make up for Texas Tech recruiting him since being a Soph, but it was close.
-PeterDalis
To Joel Gray: Life is a cabaret, old chum...enjoy Lubbock! L'chaim!
At least he didn't trash the UCLA program like like another offensive lineman did not too long ago.