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Features April 19, 2024

Elks in the Offseason : Kai Gray

@arcurimike

EDMONTON, AB – The arrow is pointing up for Elks defensive back Kai Gray.

The 26-year-old had a successful first foray into the Canadian Football League — finishing third on the team in defensive tackles with 54, while adding two interceptions. The Lincoln University standout’s promising rookie season featured plenty of highlights, but at the top of the list was his 56-yard pick six against the B.C. Lions on Sept. 22.

Gray wrapped up the year as the Elks nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie and was the West Division finalist for the award. The Newark, New Jersey product spoke to GoElks.com to discuss his offseason as he prepares for the his sophomore campaign in 2024.

First, how is your offseason going?

Th offseason going real well. You know, I’m spending most of my time working out, spending time with my two children — and in the process, I’m working on achieving my degree.

What are you trying to receive your degree in?

I’m trying to receive my bachelor’s in criminal justice from Lincoln University, the school that I attended before.

That’s awesome. How old are your kids?

My daughter turned two in December and my son just turned one in March.

How’s handling two young kids at your age and schedule?

Yeah, it could be a hassle, but just seeing the smile on their face every day is what keeps me going.

Where do you spend your time during the off season?

Right now, between New Jersey and whenever I’m at school in Pennsylvania.

Is that much of a commute?

It’s about two hour drive.

Wow, that is dedication. What does a day in the life look like for you right now?

A day in the life right now? I would say waking up and working out early in the morning. When I’m at school, I help out with the football team’s spring practices, so I’m waking up early with them for their 05:00 practice. After that, we got breakfast, class, and then I finally get to go spend some time with my kids or watch some film.

Sounds like a pretty busy offseason so far. Do you have any specific goals coming into this season?

I would say I’ve been looking at my results from last year and I’m just trying to improve. I know last year it was a big shock for me, but knowing what I’m coming into this upcoming year, I’m trying to at least double my performance in terms of picks and trying to be more of a more impactful player. Also, I’d like to make less mistakes on the field, so that’s my goal for the year.

Last year was your first experience of the CFL game. I know it can be a bit of a change for guys from down South, especially with the larger field and the extra players. What was your first experience like with the CFL, and did you know much about it before you ended up coming up here?

I didn’t know that much about it before I came to Edmonton. I mean, I had a couple of peers or people that I had played with who were in the CFL before, but I didn’t have much knowledge of it outside the two or three teams that my friends played for. Once I got the opportunity to go to the CFL, I definitely did some research and I guess the rest was just seeing it for myself when I finally got up to Edmonton.

What was the biggest on field adjustment to the CFL? 

I would say the biggest on field adjustment would be just understanding the pace of the receivers. I played safety coming out of college, so when they transitioned me to corner, it was all about understanding the pace of the receivers and letting the game come to you.

Well, you had a pretty successful first season here. You ended up getting the Elks Most Outstanding Rookie nomination, and you got your first pro pick six. What was that feeling like for that?

That was probably one of the biggest moments of my football career, in all honesty. I was never able to get a pick six in college, so being able to do it as a pro with hundreds of thousands of people watching, especially with your family watching back home from a different country, it was definitely a memory to remember, for sure.

Do you remember your phone blowing up after the game or anything like that?

Oh, yeah. My notifications from Instagram on my cell phone were going crazy. A bunch of friends, family, even my old school was shouting me out. It felt really good that I was representing them in the right way.

I mean, you kind of mentioned your personal goals, but how else would you like to build off the very successful rookie season?

I know I can’t get rookie of the year anymore, but I remember everybody who gets nominated for the finalists, they get to take that trip to wherever the Grey Cup is. So hopefully, if we’re not playing for it, whether it’s most outstanding player or most outstanding defensive player, I hope to get nominated again.