Craig Ray small school stud, University of Indianapolis.
The University of Indianapolis coaching staff moved
Craig Ray from running back to safety after his freshman season. It might have been the best position switch in school history. The Plainfield High School graduate has been cleaning up on All-America honors this week.
Wednesday, Ray was one of 25 players named to the American Football Coaches Association's NCAA Division II All-America team -- UIndy's first selection since 2001 -- and was a second-team choice on the Daktronics All-America team, which is chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
On Thursday, he was named to The Associated Press' Little All-America team, which honors the top players in NCAA Division II and III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
"It's just real exciting," Ray said. "It's something I've been shooting for since I started playing college ball as a freshman. It's not only great representation for myself, but the University of Indianapolis as well."
Ray rushed for 227 yards on 57 carries in 2007, but UIndy had a good running back returning from injury in
Craig Jenkins. It also had a need for a strong safety. The coaches figured the 6-1, 206-pound Ray would be a good fit.
"Athletically, he's a guy that could play both ways," said UIndy coach
Bob Bartolomeo, who was the Greyhounds defensive coordinator at the time. "But we knew with the wear and tear and nature of the league we're in, it would be too much for him.
"He's a physical guy that can run and make plays. He covers so much ground that he makes up for mistakes that other guys make. He kept a lot of big plays from happening."
Ray said he welcomed the move to defense because it gave him the best chance to get in the starting lineup.
"Being a strong safety, I'm able to come up and help on the run a lot," he said. "A lot of my career, I've been a hybrid linebacker, so to speak. I come down in the box a lot to give us an eighth guy, but I also drop back into pass coverage."
Ray hopes NFL scouts noticed. He plans to attend pro days held at Division I schools and would like to get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine in February. "I don't want to be one of those guys looking back when (he is) 30 and saying, 'What if?' and 'Why didn't I try it?' Ever since I was little, my dream has been to play in the NFL.''
http://athletics.uindy.edu/roster.aspx?rp_id=1257