When Seattle Seahawks secondary coach Jerry Gray was offered the chance to return to his alma mater as assistant head coach/defensive backs at the University of Texas, he packed up and left the Pacific Northwest for Austin. Many assumed that his son, SMU redshirt freshman cornerback Jeremy Gray, would follow suit, the Hilltop and heading south down I-35 so he could play for his father.

As it turns out, the Longhorns won’t be getting either Gray.

Just 26 days after he was hired at UT, Jerry left to become the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans under new head coach Mike Munchak, with whom he had played and coached. Without the allure of the chance to play for his dad, there was no real decision for Jeremy to make.

When his father left UT to go back to the NFL, Jeremy Gray reaffirmed his desire to stay at SMU (photo by Webmaster).

“I’m staying at SMU,” Jeremy Gray said Monday. “The only reason I ever thought about going to Texas was to play for him. Once Mike Munchak called, he knew he was going.

“I think (Texas head coach) Mack Brown was a little mad, but what could he say? It’s a better job, and it got my dad back in the NFL.”

Contrary to what many assumed, Jeremy Gray had not yet finalized his decision to leave SMU.

“SMU is just too good of an opportunity,” he said. “It’s a great chance to get my degree from here, and a great chance to play here.

“Plus, (head) Coach (June) Jones is totally different from anybody else out there, the way he teaches, the way he runs practices. I’m glad I’m staying at SMU.”

Gray said that even if his father had stayed at Texas, he wasn’t sure he was going to head to Austin. Wide receiver Larry Centers, Jr., who has known Gray since they were young as their fathers crossed paths in the NFL, said he is glad his friend isn’t leaving SMU, and said Gray can help the Mustangs’ defense.

“He’s not good enough to stop me, but he’s good,” Centers said, laughing. “The biggest thing with him is he’s smart. He knows the game. He has been around the NFL his whole life.”

So Gray will remain at SMU, the mid-foot sprain that had his left foot in a walking boot for part of the 2010 season now largely a thing of the past. He is working out with his teammates, getting ready to take part in spring workouts, where he will compete for playing time at the right cornerback position.

“(Secondary) Coach (Derrick) Odum said it’s wide open, that everyone will get a chance to compete for the position,” Gray said. “That’s all we can ask for, and I’m just glad I’m getting that chance at SMU.”