North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray declares for 2024 NFL Draft

After spending all four seasons of his collegiate career with the Tar Heels, North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray has officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Gray announced his decision on Monday through a post on social media, penning a heartfelt message thanking various coaches, his teammates, his family, and various others as he looks to takes his talents to the next level.

Check out Gray’s declaration to the 2024 NFL Draft below.

Within you lies the power to create and manifest the life of your dreams.🙏🏽 #33out pic.twitter.com/totbwaFXpV

— Cedric Gray (@cedthr33) December 11, 2023

Gray had an outstanding career at North Carolina which started in 2020 as a true freshman where he appeared in all 12 games primarily on special teams. The Charlotte, North Carolina native ended his true freshman season with just three tackles, but that would all change when he took over as a starter in the third game of his sophomore season in 2021.

Gray ended the 2021 season as the Tar Heels’ leading tackler and would do so for three consecutive seasons notching 99 total tackles in 2021, a career-high 144 tackles in 2022, and 121 tackles last season. He’s earned First-Team All-ACC honors in 2022 and 2023 and ends his North Carolina career as one of the program’s top 10 career tackle leaders of all time.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.