South Carolina · SECSouth Carolina Has a Freshman Offensive Lineman on National Award Watchlist
The 6-foot-3, 302-pound Gray is South Carolina’s lone representative among 37 candidates for the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year award, joining freshmen from Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and other national programs.
AUG 26, 2026
01 · The NewsWhat Happened
South Carolina freshman offensive lineman Darius Gray was named Tuesday to the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Watchlist, the Maxwell Football Club announced. Gray is listed at 6-foot-3 and 302 pounds. He is the only South Carolina player included among 37 candidates. The watchlist features freshmen from 25 other schools, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M. The award was named for former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander in 2018. Gray’s inclusion places him among the freshman players nationally selected for preseason consideration, though the watchlist does not establish his role for South Carolina this season.