2020 LB Jayden Cray commits to Central Michigan
Jim McElwain has secured a commitment from his first Florida prospect in Central Michigan's 2020 class.
Riverview High School linebacker Jayden Cray announced his commitment to play for the Chippewas Monday.
"I really enjoyed CMU after visiting the environment and the new facilities that's coming to the school," Cray said. "I liked how close people are with each other. The brotherhood – that's all that matters."
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Sarasota picked McElwain's crew over Appalachian State, Mercer, Missouri State, Ohio, Richmond, Tennessee State and Western Kentucky.
Florida was where McElwain was the head coach of the Gators in Gainesville from 2015-17, and he has ties to many top high school programs in that part of the country.
"I think he’s a great coach that knows how to run a team and a great man that everyone loves," Cray said.
Despite Appalachian State being ranked as an AP Top 25 team from the Sun Belt Conference, Cray went with a team on the rise from the Mid-American Conference.
Central Michigan is 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the MAC during McElwain's first year at the helm, and the program is set to play in the MAC championship game.
Cray picked up an offer from Central Michigan on June 26, took an official visit Nov. 27 and committed five days following his trip.
Cray is the 15th commit in CMU's 2020 class:
Jackson (Mich.) Lumen Christi 3-star OG Keegan Smith
Manitowoc (Wisc.) Lincoln 3-star TE Davis Heinzen
Parma (Mich.) Western 3-star QB Tyler Pape
Green Bay (Wisc.) Bay Port 3-star OG Braden Doyle
Kingsland (Ga.) Camden County 3-star CB Michael Holmes
Irvington (N.J.) 3-star WR Zahir Swann
Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis 3-star LB Lawaia Brown
Pittsburgh (Pa.) North Hills 3-star OT Ronald Novosedliak
Arvada (Colo.) Pomona 3-star LB Kyle Moretti
Akron (Ohio) East 3-star WR Travon Walker
Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) WR Alec Ward
Columbus (Ind.) North TE Mitchel Collier
Charlestown (Ind.) RB Marion Lukes
Elkhart (Ind.) Central DL Jonathan Decker
Sarasota (Fla.) Riverview LB Jayden Cray
