Labryan Ray looks to anchor defensive line

By Nick Sellers

It’s been quite the summer for rising junior Labryan Ray. The 6-4, 260-pound defensive lineman has gained offers from Louisville, Duke, Southern Mississippi, Western Kentucky and Troy. LaBryan has an older brother, Brandon, who played at Bob Jones and started at left guard for Western Kentucky in 2014.

LaBryan is making a name for himself at James Clemens now, starring for the Jets after Madison started boasting two high schools in 2012.

Ray started every game in 2014 as a sophomore. He primarily plays the five-technique, which means the junior end lines up on the outside of the offensive tackle. He has been to a couple of camps in Tuscaloosa put on by the University of Alabama and went to The Opening, a four-day showcase of many top football recruits across the country.

During the offseason, Ray said, he worked on using his hands effectively when lining up and putting them in the turf, and using them to get out of blocks more effectively.

“Just getting quicker out of the snap, basically,” Ray said.

Not limiting himself to just football, LaBryan also played for Jets basketball coach Danny Petty’s basketball team that made school history by winning the Area in the spring of 2015. Ray spent time as a reserve center/power forward.

Still, it can be argued that Ray’s natural sport is football, as he started playing the sport as a fifth grader – when he measured 5–8, Ray said.

On defense, Ray will be responsible for anchoring a big defensive line, along with rising senior Jamaal Morris. Coming back along the front seven will be junior middle linebacker John Jenkins, junior Monty Rice and outside linebacker Kyriq McDonald.

The Jets, however, are losing an effective pass rusher off the edge with Dylan Hampton, who graduated and is continuing his football career at Harding University in Arkansas.

As a junior, also, Ray will step into a leadership role for a team fresh off its first postseason appearance in 2014. The Jets surprised some on the way to the team’s 7–3 regular-season finish, including wins for the first time against Region foes Buckhorn, Hazel Green and Grissom.

After the Jets lost a few key players after the season, including three college-bound offensive linemen and quarterback Heath Burchfield’s top two wide receivers, Ray said the Jets are poised to make a few more surprises after some may doubt James Clemens’ potential in the new season.

“I think we’re going to shock some people,” Ray said. “We’re just a young team, but we’ve got some good players out there.”

“We just have to practice more, practice better, listen to the coaches and work hard.”