KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – If not for Hurricane Katrina, blue-chip recruit Maleik Gray might have committed to LSU.
But the devastation cause by Katrina and Hurricane Rita forced Gray’s family to move 10 years ago, from Waynesboro, Miss., to LaVergne, Tenn., in the Nashville suburbs.
It also caused him to change his allegiance.
Sunday, Gray – a national top-60 player overall and a top-five safety – committed to Tennessee. He is the 10th commitment for the Class of 2017 for the Vols.
But then the hurricanes hit in 2005.
“It affected us badly,” Gray said.