Kent State wide receiver Chrishon McCray was arguably the Flashes’ best football player in 2023 when he was healthy. McCray led the Flashes with 610 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2023, despite missing the last three games of the season with a broken ankle.
With Kent State beating Akron 27-10 in the third quarter last year, McCray suffered a season ending injury, thus deflating the Flashes in their game against that school down the road, and losing their final three games of the season with McCray, ending in a dismal 1-11 season.
The Avon, Indiana native is back healthy in 2024 and looks to lead the Kent GRIT movement.
“It motivated me a lot to want to hurry up and get back to ballin’ with my boys, that was my motivation to hurry up and get back out there,” McCray told voice of the Flashes Rob Polinsky at MAC Football Media Day Friday in Canton.
“Being on the sidelines definitely affected my mental, getting to know I want to be out there with them but I can’t but it definitely made me not take more plays in practice for granted because it can be taken away just like that.”
McCray took part in spring football and looked healthy as he soared for a touchdown on a back shoulder fade in the Blue vs. Gold spring game back in April
“I feel like I’m back to 100%. Spring ball I felt like I was 100%, felt great so I’m really excited to get back out there.”
After being picked last in the league at media day and in several of the preseason magazines, McCray and his teammates are eager to prove the naysayers wrong.
“It’s been our biggest motivation to just grow from the last day so we’re really excited to get out there and put our offseason and play, talk.
McCray emerged as the Flashes’ top weapon in 2023 with his ability to take the top of the defense with the deep ball, but also with his elusive run after the catch ability. With all the ability he has, the humble McCray knows what he can work on.
“I can probably work on my route running and not just using my speed to get around but also my technique.”
Despite being just a redshirt sophomore, in terms of production and playing time, McCray has emerged as a leader.
“I would say I’m a leader at the position group. We’re definitely very young but very talented at the same time. With the other guys trusting in me and believing in me and following in my footsteps we’re going to be a very good receiving core.”
Kent State Head Coach Kenni Burns doesn’t make it a secret that the Flashes will follow the lead that McCray sets.
“Chrishon is a 1st team All Conference player, I’m telling everybody here we’re going to go as he goes, as he plays this year, if he can be dominant and take the next step in his growth as a player, we’ll have a really good year, I believe that,” Burns said Friday. “I told him last week it’s easy to get to the top, once you’re there it’s hard to stay there. People are now trying to take you out of a game so he’s got to be mentally and emotionally ready to do whatever it takes to help us compete.”
McCray is back healthy, which is good news for the Flashes and bad news for opposing defensive coordinators and defensive backs. Kent State fans hope his electric playmaking ability can lead the Flashes to great improvement in 2024, and prove the pigskin prognosticators wrong.