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Missouri Football: Looking back at the Tigers career of Shane Ray

By Matt Melton

COLUMBIA , MO - AUGUST 30: Shane Ray #56 of the Missouri Tigers in action during a game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA , MO - AUGUST 30: Shane Ray #56 of the Missouri Tigers in action during a game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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Having posted one of the more memorable single-seasons in recent Missouri Football history, here is a look back at the Tigers career of defensive end Shane Ray.

Looking back at the Missouri Football career of Shane Ray

A former three-star prospect, Ray originally came to Missouri in the Tigers 2011 class where he was one of the top players in the state of Kansas out of Bishop Miege High School. One of the headline names in that Tigers 2011 class as well, Ray would go on to redshirt his first season at Missouri, followed by a 2012 redshirt freshman season in which he collected 16 tackles and 2.5 TFL primarily as a reserve.

Ray would once again take a notable jump in 2013 as a redshirt sophomore, collecting a total of 39 tackles, nine TFL, and 4.5 sacks for the Tigers, as well as forcing two fumbles (No. 7 in SEC). Included in that 2013 season was also one of Ray’s more memorable plays from his time at Missouri, one in which he returned a fumble 73-yards for a go ahead touchdown in the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma State.

As mentioned previously, Ray’s 2014 season is what most Missouri Football fans may remember the defensive end by, one in which he was one of the SEC’s top pass rushers. Collecting 65 total tackles, Ray would lead the SEC that season in both sacks (14.5 – No. 4 nationally) and TFL (23 – No. 3 nationally), while also ranking No. 2 in the SEC with three forced fumbles to earn honors that included SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.

Ray would declare for the 2015 NFL Draft at seasons end, and would be selected with the No. 23 overall pick by the Denver Broncos. Ending his Missouri career, Ray would conclude his time with the Tigers by collecting a career 120 tackles, 34 TFL, 19 sacks, and five forced fumbles across his three seasons on the field.

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Playing four seasons in Denver from 2015-18, Ray would appear in a total of 49 games with the Broncos during that span, collecting a combined 94 tackles, 15 TFL, and 14 sacks. A one-time Super Bowl champion, Ray has not appeared in an NFL game since the 2018 season with Denver.

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