John Gay IV always said with conviction that he would play pro football.
While the Indoor Football League is not the NFL, it is considered a pro league, and Gay is about to embark on a post-college career.
The running back out of Penn-Trafford recently signed with Fishers Freight, an Indianapolis-based expansion team in the IFL.
Gay, 24, played for three Division I college programs, spending three years at Maine after time at Air Force and Lafayette. He was an All-Patriot League second-team pick in 2021 as a kick returner.
“I’m just excited to get back to football and being on a team,” Gay said. “When you play football at the professional level, you have to give it everything. You can’t be one foot in, one foot out. I’m completely all in for the Fishers Freight.”
At Maine, he appeared in 30 games on both sides of the ball. Fishers Freight will play at the new Fishers Event Center beginning in March.
IFL teams play 16 games in the regular season. Gay hopes to get more film in front of NFL scouts.
“I found this opportunity through my agents at Pro Level Sports Agency,” Gay said. “They got me in touch with coach (Dixie) Wooten. He called me and said how interested he was in me, and the next day I signed with them.
“It’s a great opportunity to develop and gives me an opportunity to get professional film out there for other leagues to see.”
Gay ran for 1,985 and 19 touchdowns at Penn-Trafford, helping the Warriors reach the WPIAL 5A championship game as a senior.
He has football in his bloodlines.
His uncle, Nathan Gay, played football at Virginia Tech and Slippery Rock and had stints in the NFL and Arena League.
His cousin, William Gay, played at Louisville and with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.
