Many athletes dream of playing beyond the high school level, leaving the realm of varsity sports to pursue a college career. Not many make that next step. The unfortunate reality is that for most, college recruitment is simply too selective, and competing at the next level is usually only a dream. However, for Darius Gray ‘26, that is soon to be a reality. 

A four-year Varsity player, Gray has competed for the Saints’ football team since his freshman year, and it didn’t take long for him to earn recognition. Division one offers came in after just year one. Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Texas A&M and more all recognized the talent in the young player, and the names only got bigger and bigger as his high school career progressed. Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia and many of the most prestigious football programs in America wanted him to play for their team.

Meanwhile, the local Richmond area also took notice while he played for the Saints. As a sophomore, the Richmond Times Dispatch named Gray first team all-metro and co-Prep League player of the year, describing him as the athlete “most likely to be on your TV on Sundays in a few years” on the 2023 list. More recently, in August of 2025, the RTD also named him on their All-Quarter Century team.

While accruing Division One offers and football accolades, Gray also dominated on the basketball court. Just like in football, he is in his fourth year on the Saints’ varsity basketball team. In the 2024-25 season, during his junior year, he won first-team all-state honors and Virginia Prep League co-player of the year, leading the team in scoring and helping them to a 23-5 season.

In 2025, continuing with his success on the football field, Gray received one of the highest honors available to high school athletes: the chance to start in the Navy All-American Bowl. Every year, the Navy All-American Bowl (previously the Army All-American Bowl), televised and hosted in San Antonio, Texas, gives the top 100 football players from high schools around the country a chance to showcase their talent. This year, Gray was invited.

After all the accolades and many offers to play college football from across the United States, Gray made the life-altering decision in Ryan Recital Hall during his commitment ceremony on August 22, 2025, surrounded by over 100 of his peers. Over his other top four choices, Ohio State, LSU, Tennessee and Clemson, Gray ultimately chose to become a South Carolina Gamecock. His relationship with South Carolina coach Frank Beamer was a deciding factor in his ultimate choice.“Just to have the opportunity to play for someone like that, who’s building and everything he’s done so far, I’m just trying to come help,” Gray said in a commitment-day interview.

While he has certainly not slowed down through the first three games of the 2025-26 season, living up to the elite standard he set on the offensive line. Already racking up five sacks, he is undoubtedly looking forward to finally taking the next step that many athletes dream of.