Shane Ray is now a consensus First Team All-American
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou junior defensive end Shane Ray (Kansas City, Mo.) has been named to both the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) and The Sporting News All-America First Teams, as announced by both the AFCA and Sporting News on Wednesday (Dec. 17). Ray is now a Consensus First Team All-American after landing on three of the four All-America First Teams that have been released. In addition to the AFCA and The Sporting News, he earned first team distinction from the Walter Camp Foundation last week. He was an Associated Press All-America Second Team selection yesterday as well.
Ray had a sensational junior campaign as one of the most feared defensive ends in the nation. He is the Tigers' third ever defensive end to earn First Team All-America honors, joining Justin Smith (2000) and Michael Sam (2013). He is the first Tiger junior DE to reach first team All-America status since Smith in 2000. He is the first consensus All-American at Mizzou since Sam was a unanimous choice a year ago.
Continuing a trend of quality play along the defensive line at Mizzou (#DLineZOU), Ray is the latest star pupil under Mizzou defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski. Under Kuligowski's tutelage, Ray reset the school's single season sack record with 14.0 this season while also totaling 21.0 tackles for loss. Both of those figures are the third-most nationally and lead the SEC. He is second in the SEC in tackles for loss per game and sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game. Ray also finished fifth on the team in total tackles with 61.
The Tigers are off from practice until this Friday, when they renew on-field preparations for the 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl against Minnesota, set for Jan. 1st in Orlando, Fla. For more information about the Citrus Bowl, please visit the official site of the Citrus Bowl, at www.buffalowildwingscitrusbowl.com.
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