PLAINFIELD, Ind. -  It has been just a year, but the wait has seemed longer for Craig Ray.  After playing – and winning – his final football game at the University of Indianapolis in November of 2010, the All-American safety had his sights set on playing in the National Football League.  But his professional aspirations were delayed (or potentially derailed) not by his talents, but by the longest labor stoppage in NFL history.

With the formation of a new collective bargaining agreement last July, the 132-day lockout finally came to an end, but in its wake was a severely shortened offseason, with minicamps and OTAs (organized team activities) as casualties.

For undrafted players like Ray, that all added up to limited opportunities, especially players from lower-profile schools like NCAA Division II UIndy.

“The lockout lasted so long,” said the 23-year-old Plainfield High School grad, “they didn't have a rookie minicamp.  They didn't have OTAs.  They didn't even have veteran minicamp.  All they had was training camp, and being from a smaller school, I think my name got pushed back out of the way.”

Following his senior year, there was talk – even a buzz – about the 6-1, 215 pounder's talent.  Officials from the Jacksonville Jaguars came to campus before the 2011 draft to see him work out.  He even got a couple calls from his beloved Indianapolis Colts on draft day.

“(The Colts) didn't know if they'd draft me or not, but if they didn't draft me, they said they'd be giving me a call shortly after the draft.  I got another call from their defensive backs coach saying that he liked me and that they'd be in touch after the lockout, but because the lockout lasted so long, I kind of got pushed behind the eight ball with that, but I just stuck it out and figured I'd give it one more shot this year.”

Undaunted, Ray spent the first part of the 2011-12 academic year finishing up his health and physical education degree and also spending countless hours in the gym.

“I finished out my degree the first semester of this year (2011-12) with student teaching and so I graduated in December,” said the former academic all-conference honoree.  “But all through student teaching, I'd be running and lifting and everything, staying with my training regimen.

“After graduation, I've been substitute teaching in Plainfield and that's pretty much been my job: just subbing and working out.  I've been working out every single day.  The only day I really take off is Sunday.

“But sometimes I give in and do some little stuff on Sunday too.”

Two weeks after a March 20 tryout with the Colts that he said “went well,” Ray got a call from his agent.

It wasn't the Indianapolis Colts on the phone.  It was the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle one-upped the hometown Colts by extending an invitation to their rookie minicamp May 11-13.

A strong performance could land Ray on the team's 90-man roster, and thus allow him to stick with the team and attend voluntary workouts this summer and eventually training camp.

“I was blessed with the opportunity to get a call from the Seahawks,” said Ray.  “Now I just want to go out there and make the most of it.  I've always set high expectations and goals for myself.  That's not going to change.
 
“I expect to make it.”


Ray's 2010 accolades at UIndy
- American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) First Team All-America
- Daktronics, Inc., Second Team All-America
- Daktronics, Inc., First Team All-Region
- Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) “Defensive Back of the Year”
- First Team All-GLIAC
- Consensus Draft Services Division II Preseason Second Team All-America
- CoSIDA/ESPN College Division Academic All-District 5 Second Team
- GLIAC All-Academic Team
- Angus Nicoson 'Something Extra' Award
- Greyhounds' Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year