Sharks Acquire WR Reggie Gray

(photo credit: onthefieldreport.com)

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville Sharks announced that WR Reggie "Big Play" Gray was assigned to the team. Per usual policy, contract terms were not discussed.

Gray (5'11", 180 lbs), who had a stellar career with the San Jose Sabercats, including winning Arena Bowl MVP honors last year, comes to Jacksonville with a wealth of indoor experience at only 32 years old, suiting up for the team he beat in ArenaBowl XXVIII.

A Chicago native, Gray showed he was a star at Morgan Park High School, where he was awarded All-State honors at quarterback, side receiver, and defensive back, and led Morgan Park to the 2001 City Championship.

After playing for Western Illinois, where he became the team's all-time leader in catches (155) and receiving yards (2,454), Gray signed with the Bloomington Extreme, then of United Indoor Football, and played for two seasons before going to the Chicago Rush in 2008. He was with the team in the off season, but did not make the final roster.

Gray took advantage of the AFL shutdown in 2009 and joined several teammates with the CIFL Chicago Slaughter. He led the league in all-purpose yards with 1,318, and led the Slaughter to an undefeated season and a league title. In the 58-48 win over Fort Wayne, he had a 46-yard kick return for a touchdown.

Gray came back to the Rush in 2011, and immediately made an impact with 130 catches for 1,969 yards and 49 touchdowns. He added four more via kick return, and his record-breaking efforts netted him second-team All-Arena, All-Ironman, and J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Year honors.

After a second appearance on the second All-Arena team in 2013 thanks to 174.7 all-purpose yards per game, Gray went to San Jose, where he continued the conversation about being an all-time great receiver. In just 14 games, Gray still managed 86 receptions for 1,054 yards and 29 touchdowns, on top of totaling 564 kickoff return yards and a touchdown. He followed that up with a 2015 season that saw him win the receiving title with 162 catches and 44 touchdowns with 1,698 yards. Adding 1,282 kick return yards and three touchdowns, he finished second with 165.6 all-purpose yards per game.