Guelph marshals forces to welcome McCray

The Guelph Gryphons football team brought everybody but the water boy to Notre Dame Thursday to announce the signing of Fighting Irish quarterback Marshall McCray.

Joining Guelph head coach Ryan Sheahan at the signing ceremony were offensive coordinator Mark Surya, running back coach and operations manager Nate Kettles, strength and conditioning/defensive line coach Adam Kania, special teams coordinator/defensive back coach Donnavan Carter and Niagara recruiter/personnel coach John Casasanta.

“Football is important here at ND Welland and it is important for the University of Guelph Gryphons. You only get one chance to make a great first impression,” Sheahan said. “We wanted to show how important he is to the team and bring everybody down.”

That importance is highlighted by Guelph’s expectations for the 12B quarterback.

“We have him circled to come in and compete for the starting quarterback job right away,” he said. “Our quarterback room is going through some turnover but I feel he has the attributes and the leadership qualities that we are looking for. He, the redshirt freshman, the returning quarterback from last year and another incoming freshman will all be competing for the starting job.”

The work to earn that starting role has already begun.

“He needs to continue to do what he is doing right now and prepare himself to make the jump to the next level physically,” Sheahan said. “We are going to have lots of zoom meetings over the next eight months to get him ready for training camp and up to speed on the information. He already has arm strength and physical prowess so I don’t think it will be hard for him to make the jump.”

The 18-year-old McCray was thrilled to finally sign with Guelph.

“It means a lot. I have been waiting for this day for a lot of years and I have been working hard to try and get to this point,” the six foot, 195-pounder said. “It is great to be here but now it is time to get working and mentally it’s going to be a challenge. I have to go in and learn the playbook.”

His goals are in line with the expectations of Guelph’s coaching staff.

“I want to earn that job and get on the field as soon as I can,” the future human kinetics major said.

He kept his decision to sign with Guelph secret from almost everyone until almost the last moment.

“I wanted to keep it close with my family and some other people because I wanted to make it a big surprise and a big thing.”

McCray had offers from four other Ontario universities and interest from a couple of American schools but Guelph was his clear choice.

“I really like my chance to fit in there and work for an opportunity right away.”

He made an official visit to the school before making his decision.

“I don’t think there was a certain moment when I decided but throughout the whole time, they were always lingering on my mind even on other visits. I was always comparing them and then I starting thinking I should go there.”

McCray considered going to university after his Grade 12 year but decided to stay back for an additional year at the high school level. It was a smart move.

“Mentally I have grown so much over the course of last year to understand the game more,” he said. “My physical traits have always been going up but growing mentally had been the biggest thing.”

Improving his ability to read defences has been a big part of that mental development.

“Bisci (Notre Dame head coach Tim) made sure of that and I have been working to do that with all my coaches, including in the summer with the Spears, working with those coaches and against high-level defences.”

Bisci feel the extra year of development has been great for McCray.

“Omigod yes. If you are thinking of going, the growing year between 17 and 18 and 18 and 19 is a huge thing. You are going to be playing against guys who are 24 years old. There is a big discrepancy in physical play and football IQ,” he said. “Sticking around was probably the best thing he could have done.”

Bisci has high hopes for McCray at the next level.

“We have had a lot of coaches come and sign kids here and they (Guelph) sent everybody today. He is a pretty special kid and there is a lot of upside with him and that shows when almost their entire staff comes to do the signing.”

Guelph has had McCray on its radar for the past three years.

“Mark Surya said there was this young man who was going to be a special, special guy in a couple of years and if our stars aligned right and we were in the market for a quarterback at that time, then we should take a serious look,” Sheahan said. “We started to look more seriously over the last 18 months.”

Guelph’s interest in McCray was cemented Sept. 9 after watching him play at exhibition game against Nelson at Guelph.

“When you get to watch someone live and see all the little intricacies of the game, he was a competitor, a leader, an accurate passer and he also has that ability to just be elusive and create which you don’t see all the time,” Sheahan said. “I also love the fact that he is a great student.”

McCray has made a name for himself in high school as one of the hardest hitting runners and someone who wants to run through you as much as he does around you. That may change a bit at Guelph.

“We don’t want to take away his ability to create or take the paint brush out of the painter’s hands but I did tease him and told him that we were going to teach him to slide and go out of bounds until we are playing in the playoffs or playing for the trophy,” Sheahan said. “That’s when he can take a few chances.”

McCray is alright with that.

“I will abide by the coach’s rules but here and there I will have to do my thing.”