OVERVIEW
Well-built athlete with experience at cornerback, nickel back and free safety … Physical tackler with a knack for getting into the backfield and disrupting the play … Started 16 of 42 games for the Tigers, recording 123 tackles (86 solos) with three sacks for minus-32 yards, six stops for losses of 37 yards, two interceptions and 28 pass deflections.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Competitive defender who despite his size, will show no hesitation stepping up to the line in run support … Has very good field awareness, keying and diagnosing quickly vs. both the run and pass … Can latch-on and trail the tight ends and running backs in the short area … Makes good decisions turning and making plays on the ball underneath … Good open field tackler who stays low in his pads while driving hard with his legs to wrap and secure … Keeps a tight relationship with the receivers down the sidelines and times his leaps well to deflect the pass away at its high point.
Negatives: Has a thin, almost frail build, with thin, slender arms, skinny neck, very thin upper body build and marginal muscle development … Has the ability to make plays in front of him, but struggles to maintain contact with the receivers in the deep half of the field … His quickness is negated, as he is very tight in his lower body, appearing rigid and slow in his turns and is only marginal in his plant and drive … Despite his timed speed, he has only a little burst in long pursuit … Lacks natural hands for the interception, generally letting the ball absorb into his chest rather than extending for it … Good open field tackler, but his lack of strength allows the opponent to power through his arm tackles … Has a chronic right shoulder situation that needs further medical evaluation.
AGILITY TESTS
4.33 in the 40-yard dash … 280-pound bench press … Bench presses 225 pounds 9 times … 355-pound squat … 248-pound power clean … 4.24 20-yard shuttle … 11.08 60-yard shuttle … 6.78 three-cone drill … 39-inch vertical jump … 10-foot-6 broad jump … 30½-inch arm length … 9½-inch hands … Right-handed.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Brusly (La.) High, playing football for coach Brady Perry … First-team all-district as a junior and senior … First-team all-metro both years … Lettered four years in football, three in weight lifting, two in baseball and one in track … Played in only eight games as a senior due to a knee injury but still managed to rush for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns … Also caught three touchdown passes and ran back two punts for scores.
PERSONAL
Marketing major … Nicknamed "Blue" … Born Randall Jerome Gay, Jr., on May 5, 1982 in Baton Rouge, La. … Resides in Brusly, La.