#MizzouMade First Round Draft Picks
Shane Ray Drafted 23rd Overall by Denver
Tiger defensive end becomes Mizzou’s seventh first rounder since 2009.
CHICAGO, Ill. – Mizzou junior defensive end and reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Shane Ray (Kansas City, Mo.) was selected with the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos on Thursday (April 30).
Ray becomes the seventh Mizzou standout since 2009 to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, joining DL Sheldon Richardson (No. 13 to the New York Jets in 2013), DL Aldon Smith (No. 7 to San Francisco in 2011), QB Blaine Gabbert (No. 10 to Jacksonville in 2011), LB Sean Weatherspoon (No. 19 to Atlanta in 2010), WR Jeremy Maclin (No. 19 to Philadelphia in 2009) and DT Ziggy Hood (No. 32 to Pittsburgh in 2009). Ray continues the trend of defensive lineman taking their careers in the NFL, becoming the sixth defensive lineman under Craig Kuligowski to be drafted since 2009.
Ray is the 19th Tiger in history to be taken in the NFL Draft’s first round. Prior to tonight’s draft, Mizzou ranked among the top five programs nationally in first round NFL Draft picks since 2009. Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel has now seen 27 players drafted since taking over the program in 2001. Below is a rundown of Mizzou’s draft picks.
Ray is coming off of a stellar junior season that saw him earn consensus First Team All-America honors after breaking Mizzou’s single-season sacks record with 14.5 on the year. He also added 22.5 tackles-for-loss. He was dubbed the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and the league’s 14 coaches, and additionally he was a four-time SEC weekly award winner. Ray was also a finalist for the Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s top DE and was also a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Bednarik Awards. He led the SEC in sacks and tackles-for-loss, ranking in the top five nationally in both categories.
Rounds two and three of the NFL Draft will be held Friday evening, beginning at 6 p.m. (CT) in Chicago on ESPN, as several more Tiger hopefuls will look to hear their names called. For all the latest on Mizzou football, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouFootball.
First Round History
| Year Round Pick Overall Tiger Team Position |
| 2015 1 23 23 Shane Ray Broncos DL |
| 2013 1 13 13 Sheldon Richardson Jets DL |
| 2011 1 7 7 Aldon Smith 49ers DE |
| 2011 1 10 10 Blaine Gabbert Jaguars QB |
| 2010 1 19 19 Sean Weatherspoon Falcons LB |
| 2009 1 19 19 Jeremy Maclin Eagles WR |
| 2009 1 32 32 Ziggy Hood Steelers DL |
| 2001 1 4 4 Justin Smith Bengals DE |
| 1987 1 15 15 John Clay Raiders T |
| 1981 1 26 26 Howard Richards Cowboys T |
| 1979 1 13 13 Kellen Winslow Chargers TE |
| 1977 1 11 11 Morris Towns Oilers T |
| 1977 1 19 19 Steve Pisarkiewicz Cardinals QB |
| 1971 1 11 11 Joe Moore Bears RB |
| 1969 1 19 19 Roger Wehrli Cardinals DB |
| 1968 1 4 4 Russ Washington Chargers T |
| 1966 1 10 10 Francis Peay Giants T |
| 1946 1 8 8 Bill Dellastatious Lions B |
| 1943 1 9 9 Bob Steuber Bears RB |
Here’s a recap of all of the NFL Draft picks to play for Gary Pinkel at Mizzou…
| Year Round Pick Overall Tiger Team Position |
| 2014 2 28 60 Kony Ealy Panthers DL |
| 2014 2 32 64 Justin Britt Seahwaks OL |
| 2014 6 12 188 E.J. Gaines Rams DB |
| 2014 7 34 249 Michael Sam Rams DL |
| 2013 1 13 13 Sheldon Richardson Jets DL |
| 2012 3 15 78 Michael Egnew Dolphins TE |
| 2011 1 7 7 Aldon Smith 49ers DE |
| 2011 1 10 10 Blaine Gabbert Jaguars QB |
| 2011 7 31 234 Andrew Gachkar Chargers LB |
| 2010 1 19 19 Sean Weatherspoon Falcons LB |
| 2009 1 19 19 Jeremy Maclin Eagles WR |
| 2009 1 32 32 Ziggy Hood Steelers DL |
| 2009 2 23 55 William Moore Falcons S |
| 2009 3 34 98 Chase Coffman Bengals TE |
| 2009 5 3 139 Colin Brown Chiefs OL |
| 2009 6 26 199 Stryker Sulak Raiders DL |
| 2008 4 6 105 Will Franklin Chiefs WR |
| 2008 4 12 111 Martin Rucker Browns TE |
| 2007 4 16 113 Brian Smith Jaguars DE |
| 2006 4 6 103 Brad Smith Jets WR |
| 2006 7 35 243 Tony Palmer Rams G |
| 2005 3 25 89 Atiyyah Ellison Panthers DT |
| 2005 5 6 142 Damien Nash Titans RB |
| 2005 6 17 191 C.J. Mosley Vikings DT |
| 2003 5 8 143 Justin Gage Bears WR |
| 2003 6 41 214 Keith Wright Texans DT |
