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It was Shane Ray Day yesterday at the Mizzou athletic complex. Here are the highlights. There were quite a few of them.
MUTIGERS.COM: Mizzou's Shane Ray Declares for the NFL Draft
Defensive Line Coach Craig Kuligowski
Opening Statement...
"We're really happy for Shane and proud of him. Since he first got here, his competitive spirit has been outstanding. The word "can't" is not in his vocabulary. He's an extremely fun guy to coach because if you tell him he can't do something, he will find a way to do it, which is great. He's not stopped at getting better since he got here. Through the process this year, he's handled it with grace and been true to our team. He's developed from a guy that said `what I can do for me?' to a guy that says `how can I help this team?' He's one of the best leaders on our team in and out of the locker room not only with his play, but also his motivation to inspire our team to great heights. We're very proud of him. He certainly set a standard that can hardly be matched in any year following. It's easy to see from his great family why he is such a success and I just want to congratulate him on a great year and hopefully an unbelievably successful career."
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou's Shane Ray: "It's time to move on."
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Shane Ray declares for NFL Draft
Pinkel said he advises any underclassman that gets a first-round grade to go. He said the one that came closest to actually staying was Jeremy Maclin: "I had him up in my office and was talking with him. I said, ‘We found out you’re projected to be a first-round pick.’ I went through the whole thing about, ‘If you’re ready to go, I suggest you go.’ He was talking to his mom and dad back and forth a little bit and you could tell he was searching. And he finally looked up and me and said, ‘Coach, do you think I’m ready?’ Which I was kind of surprised. Here’s this great, great player, but he just wanted to get my opinion. He knew I was going to be honest with him. I said, ‘Yeah, I think you’re ready. you’ve got to want to do this. But do I think you’re ready to go do this? There’s no question about it.'"
The Missourian: Missouri football's Shane Ray declares for NFL draft
PowerMizzou: Inside Ray's decision
PowerMizzou: Ray's legacy on, off the field
"We're not going to have any more announcements at bowl games or anything else," Pinkel said, following Missouri's first bowl practice. "That's an individual deal. We're going to do a team deal."
While I don't doubt Pinkel's sincerity in making a draft declaration about the team, it also serves a tool in recruiting. Six years since Jeremy Maclin had an emotional press conference in which he declared for the draft, Missouri still uses that moment in recruiting -- especially with in-state athletes.
No surprises
The Trib: Brantley, other potential MU underclassman draftees, expected to stay
Shane Ray is Missouri's fourth defensive lineman to enter the NFL draft early since 2011, follows Smith, Richardson, Ealy
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
Pinkel repeats that Ray is "one of the great competitors I've ever been around in my life. In my top five."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski said he started to hear Ray's name in conjunction with the first round around the fourth game this season.
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Craig Kuligowski on Ray: "He set a standard this year that will be hard to be matched."
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
Hill: "It's a great example of a guy from the state of Missouri staying in Missouri and developing."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Hill: "I think the Missouri Tigers are putting one out that you'll see on Sundays for a long time."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski said Harold Brantley has told him he's coming back next year.
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski on the defensive coordinator hire: "I don't want to talk about it. Today is about Shane."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Pinkel pulled Shane Ray aside on the trophy stage after the citrus bowl and whispered to him that he received a 1st round grade from the NFL
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
Ray: "I’m more than capable of playing outside linebacker. I’m more than capable of keeping my hand in the dirt."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Mizzou DL coach Craig Kuligowski on sending another underclassmen to the NFL draft: "We sell the heck out of it (to recruits.)"
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
Craig Kuligowski: "I think our team greatly overachieved and (Ray) is a great example of how we did that."
— Gabe DeArmond (@GabeDeArmond) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski on Golden and Ray: "These two guys, I love these two guys probably as much as I have anybody I’ve ever coached."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski: "Every year at the end of the year, they say ‘I don’t know how these guys are going to do it.’"
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski (cont.): "Last year we lost Kony Ealy and Michael Sam, everybody said, ‘I don’t know how they’re possibly going to do it.’"
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski (cont.): "And we had a better defense and better sack total, better tackles for loss. Another defensive player of the year."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski (last one): "I’m not going to predict a third. But I will say our guys will find a way to be good. I promise you that."
— David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) January 7, 2015
Mizzou D-line coach Craig Kuligowski said the staff is much better prepared for possible draft early entrants than it was years ago
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
Kuligowski said he was stunned when CJ Mosley left MU for the draft in 2005 and somewhat surprised when Aldon Smith did the same in 2010
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
From talking to coaches, sounds like Ray handled draft buzz & decision-making process as well, if not better, than any past early entrant
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
Shane Ray's mom said she wouldn't have given him her blessing if he got a 2nd-rd grade. He promised her he'd earn degree, one semester left
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 7, 2015
#Mizzou should use Shane Ray & Markus Golden as promotional poster children for years to come. Great players, also a pleasure to cover both.
— Gabe DeArmond (@GabeDeArmond) January 7, 2015
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