Shane Ray celebrates after making a stop against Kentucky (photo/Mizzou Athletics)
For the second-straight year, Mizzou features the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as MU’s junior DE Shane Ray was named the league’s top defender by the Associated Press. He followed former All-American DE Michael Sam, who won the same award in 2013 for his breakout season.
The AP today released its 2014 All-Southeastern Conference football team, and seven different Tigers in all received mention, including three who landed on the first team, with two on the second team and two honorable-mention selections.
Leading the way was Shane Ray, who was named 1st-Team All-SEC in addition to his player of the year honor. Ray emerged from the shadow of 2013 standouts Michael Sam and Kony Ealy, who were both first-team All-SEC picks a year ago, and forged his own path, breaking records along the way. The first-year starter set a school record with 14.0 quarterback sacks, and he also totaled 21.0 tackles for loss, while ranking fifth on the team with his 61 tackles on the year. Ray leads the SEC and ranks 3rd nationally in sacks, while he ranks 2nd in the league, and 6th nationally in tackles for loss.
