Texas' Johnathan Gray wants consistent playing time in senior year: 'They owe me that'

Texas running back Johnathan Gray is banking on an injury-free senior season in which to showcase his talents, after a freak Achilles injury ended an impressive sophomore campaign.

That nagging injury hobbled Gray for much of last season as well, though he refused to take a medical redshirt to preserve his eligibility.

Now fully healed, the 5-foot-11, 201-pound Gray wants the opportunity to show what he can do when not limited by injury.

"They owe me that," he said, according to Chuck Carlton of The Dallas Morning News.

The injury, which occurred in a November game against West Virginia, prevented Gray from reaching the 1,000-yard rushing plateau in 2013. He had accrued 696 yards before going down.

Now one of the Longhorns' most experienced weapons, Gray will be counted on to make significant offensive contributions, and could see upwards of 30 carries per game, according to coach Charlie Strong.

"Now with him being the guy, you expect big things for him. And I told him that," Strong said. "We have backups, but we'd like to see J. Gray go out and just have a big year."

It's a hope shared by his father, former Texas Tech All-American running back James Gray.

"It would be nice, wouldn’t it, to go one complete year, staying healthy," the elder Gray said of his son. "Like I told him, it’s another chapter in his life. I really think he’ll have a real good season this year."