Julian Gray

2025 (R-Sr.):

Doak Walker Award Watch List (Nation’s Most Outstanding running back)
Phil Steele CUSA Preseason All-Conference Third-Team (kick return specialist)
Phil Steele CUSA Preseason All-Conference Fourth-Team (running back)
Athlon Sports CUSA Preseason All-Conference Second-Team (running back)
Athlon Sports CUSA Preseason All-Conference Second-Team (kick return specialist)
Moved to running back from wide receiver during the offseason

2024 (R-Jr.):

Phil Steele CUSA Preseason All-Conference First-Team (kick return specialist)
Phil Steele Preseason All-America fourth-team kick return specialist
Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List
Saw playing time in eight games
Started four of the last five games of the season
Led the Flames with 17 kickoff returns for 348 yards
Averaged 20.5 yards per kickoff return
Also had two punt returns for 15 yards
Ranked fourth on Liberty’s roster in all-purpose yardage (522)
Had seven receptions for 97 yards
Finished the season with two touchdown receptions
One of five players on the team with multiple touchdown receptions
Also added 10 rushing attempts for 62 yards
One of six players on the roster with a rushing touchdown
Helped the Flames finish the season ranked No. 4 in the country in rushing (250.7 yards per game)
Three kickoff returns for 62 yards in his first game as a Flame against Campbell
Had a breakout game against Middle Tennessee
Finished the game against MTSU with three carries for 52 yards, including a 41-yard rushing touchdown
Also added a 34-yard touchdown reception against Middle Tennessee
Three kickoff returns for 71 yards against UMass
Finished the WKU game with three carries for 14 yards
Also added two receptions for 47 yards against WKU, including an 11-yard touchdown catch
Finished the WKU game with a season-high four kickoff returns, including a long return of 56 yards

Previous School:

Transferred to Liberty from NC State
Played in 28 career games during the 2021-23 seasons
Tallied 822 total kickoff return yards during his three seasons with the Wolfpack
Averaged 24.9 yards per kickoff return during his career at NC State
Ranked No. 3 in the ACC and No. 11 in the country in kickoff returns in 2023 (26.0 yards per return)
Ranked No. 4 in the ACC in total kick return yards in 2023 (442)
Earned ACC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown against VMI
Ranked No. 3 in the ACC and No. 26 in the country in kickoff return average in 2022 (23.8 yards per return)
Recorded 30 receptions for 293 yards and a touchdown during his three seasons at NC State
Also added eight rushing attempts for 60 yards

Prep:

Graduated from Hopewell High School in Huntersville, N.C.
Ranked as the No. 29 player in the state of North Carolina by 247Sports.com
Ranked as the No. 50 wide receiver nationally and the No. 24 player in the state by 247Sports.com.
Finished his two-year varsity career with 1,576 yards and 15 touchdowns
Totaled 1,875 all-purpose career yards and three special teams touchdowns
Hopewell did not have a fall season during his senior year
Named to the 2020 Shrine Bowl roster for North Carolina
Hopewell’s first-ever Big 22 Player of the Year finalist as a junior
Earned all-conference honors during his junior season
Finished his junior year with 57 receptions for 1,217 yards and nine touchdowns
Also participated in track & field
State finalist in both the 100 and 200 meters
Named to his school’s Honor Roll three straight years
Hopewell Football Scholar for outstanding academic achievement