Shane Ray

launches himself off the line with an explosive first step to beat tackles and can fly by and around them, showing the flexibility and balance to scrape the corner and close. complements speed rush with a quick jab-step back to the inside and a swim over the top to counter if blockers lean outside. locates the ball quickly and changes direction fluidly to pursue.

Exceptional reaction quickness. Decisively makes plays with an outstanding motor. Shows good effort in run pursuit. Good bloodlines. His father, Wendell Ray, played at Missouri and was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in 1981.

strengths

Extraordinary athlete who claims to have been clocked at 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He has a 40-plus-inch vertical, 10-foot broad jump and bench presses over 400 pounds.

overly reliant on athleticism to wreak havoc. still developing array of pass-rush moves. could improve his functional strength and awareness of cut blocks. work in progress when it comes to run-game awareness. average power in his hands. struggles to disengage from blockers. too aggressive, as evidenced by his ejection in the sec championship for launching himself into the quarterback.

COMPARES TO

weaknesses

Each team's medical reports on Ray will be critical to the final evaluation as he is dealing with a lingering foot injury that some doctors believe will ultimately require surgery. He was also cited for marijuana possession just days before the draft.

bruce irvin, olb, seahawks -- not as slender as irvin but has the same explosive straight-line speed, flexibility to turn the corner and the strength to pull down the ballcarrier. ray will be highly regarded by 4-3 and 3-4 teams alike because of his natural pass rushing skills.

--Dane Brugler & Rob Rang

Was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 17 weakside end in the nation, as well as the No. 3 overall player at any position from the state of Kansas

earned first-team all-state honors as a senior after totaling 100 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a blocked punt at the 5A level

as a junior, helped lead his team to a 4A state title as he had 131 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Parents

Wendell Ray & Sebrina Johnson

father was a defensive lineman for Warren Powers, and was a 5th-round draft pick in the 1981 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings

interested in studying business in MU's esteemed School of Business

chose Mizzou over Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Clemson, Kansas State and Kansas, among many others.