A Gray blue-chipper

A Gray blue-chipper?

That looks to be the case next season in state of Missouri as one of the best players to come out of the Show Me State will be quarterback Logan Gray of Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge.

Gray is already a member of Class of 2007 100 players to watch list, and he already has a scholarship offer on the table from Missouri. Plus, he's also worked out with the best of the best at the EA Sports Elite 11 as a ball boy.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make it to the Elite 11 camp," Gray, who is 6-foot-2 and 164 pounds, said. "I was a ball boy out there this past year. We had a quarterback a few years ago (Chase Patton), who did the Elite 11 so it would be cool if I could do that again.

"I thought Tim Tebow looked like a stud this year. Matt Stafford was also very good. Those were the top two quarterbacks, I thought."

Gray feels his game could take him to the same level as Tebow and Stafford.

"I'm definitely a dual threat," Gray said. "I didn't run the ball much for my team. I ended up running the ball only three or four times a game. I think running is one of my strengths. I haven't gotten to show it off much yet.

"I also have a very strong arm and great command of my offense. I pride myself on being a good leader, too."

Gray threw for 2,180 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior. He also rushed for three additional scores, which is why teams from all over the nation are already sending him mail.

"Things were getting busy, but it's actually kind of slowed down as Signing Day is about to happen for 2006," Gray said. "It definitely got going for a while, though. I was getting letters from about 30 schools. The main schools I remember were Missouri, Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, Oklahoma Notre Dame.

"Missouri is my only offer right now. They might have a little advantage, but it's not going to play a major role in my decision. I was a Missouri fan growing up, but I was never a die hard fan or anything. I never really grew up having a dream that I would play for them or anything. It would be cool to play here, but it's not going to be the main factor."

But he's not ready to call the Tigers his leader, though.

"I don't really have a favorite right now," he said. "I'm just kind of looking at everybody until things get a little heavier the more time goes on. I want to take most of my visits if not all of them. I'm probably not going to commit anywhere until late.

"I have some family ties with the University of Georgia, so if I have an offer from them I'll probably at least visit there. This summer I plan on going to a couple one-day camps. Iowa and Georgia both invited me for their one day so those are two I'm thinking about right now. I'd like to go to two or three different one-day camps."