Shane Ray

Shane Ray

refer to caption

Ray with the Denver Broncos in 2015
No. 56Denver Broncos
Position: Outside linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1993-05-18) May 18, 1993
Place of birth: Kansas City, Missouri
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school: Roeland Park (KS) Bishop Miege
College: Missouri
NFL Draft: 2015 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 13, 2016
Total tackles: 40
Sacks: 9.0
Forced fumbles: 0
Pass deflections: 1
Interceptions: 0
Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at NFL.com

Shane Ray (born May 18, 1993) is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Missouri, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

High school career

Ray attended Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, Kansas, where he played football and competed in track. In football, he earned first-team all-state honors as a senior after totaling 100 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles. In track & field, Ray competed in the throwing events. At the 2010 Baker Relays, he took gold in the shot put event with a throw of 14.60 meters (47 ft 9 in).[1]

Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated as the 17th best weakside defensive end prospect of his class.[2] After being shown interest by programs such as Notre Dame, Kansas and Wisconsin, he ultimately decided to accept a scholarship to Missouri.[3]

College career

After redshirting in his first season, he made 16 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, in 12 games as a backup defensive end for the Tigers. In 2013, played in all 14 games, recording 39 tackles, including nine for loss, and 4.5 sacks despite backing up Kony Ealy and Michael Sam. In 2014, he began to emerge as one of the premier pass rushers in the SEC. Through the first five games of the season, he set a new career high in tackles for loss (11) and sacks (8).[4] In the 2014 SEC Championship Game, he was ejected from the game after targeting Alabama quarterback Blake Sims after throwing for what would be a 58-yard touchdown to DeAndrew White.[5] He cooled off towards the end of the season, but he still finished with 65 tackles, 22.5 TFL and 14.5 sacks, breaking the record of 11.5 that was owned by both Michael Sam and Aldon Smith. Following the season, he was named a consensus All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.[6][7]

After his junior season, Ray entered the 2015 NFL Draft.[8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft 3 in 245 lb33 1/8 in9 in 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine [9]

Ray was prevented from participating in drills at the NFL Combine due to a foot injury similar to turf toe that he obtained during the 2015 Citrus Bowl, however many doctors have said surgery is not needed.

On April 27, 2015, days before the 2015 NFL Draft, Ray was cited for possession of marijuana.[10][11]

Denver Broncos

On April 30, 2015, Ray was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.[12]

Ray ended his rookie season with 20 tackles, 4 sacks, and one pass defended.

Ray won his first Super Bowl on February 7, 2016, when the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. Ray had 2 tackles in the game.[13]

On September 18, 2016, Ray scored his first career touchdown after a forced fumble was caused by Von Miller to seal a Broncos victory against the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 34-20.

On September 25, 2016, Ray recorded a career high 3 sacks in a 29-17 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals to help the Broncos improve to 3-0.

Personal life

Shane's father, Wendell Ray, lettered at Missouri from 1978-1980 at linebacker and was a fifth-round draft pick in the 1981 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, but never played a regular-season game in the NFL. In an interview with Bleacher Report, Shane states that he and his mother were "trying to make it off food stamps."[14] He then goes on to state that his mother "did it all by herself."[14]

References

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