Ray Wilborn
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ray Wilborn
| image = 2024, 0, Rayshawn Wilborn.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Wilborn with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2024
| current_team = Hamilton Tiger-Cats
| number =
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|4|1}}
| birth_place = Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 230
| high_school = J. W. Sexton (MI)
| college = Garden City CC
Ball State
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2021|2022}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2022|2023}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| cflstatus = American
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 2
| highlights =
| pfr = WilbRa00
| cfl = ray-wilborn/165944/
}}
Rayshawn Kyli Wilborn (born April 1, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Garden City Community College and Ball State and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in {{NFL Year|2020}}. He has also been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos and New York Giants.
Early life
Wilborn was born on April 1, 1997, in Lansing, Michigan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WilbRa00.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Ray Wilborn Stats}} He attended J. W. Sexton High School where he earned four varsity letters in football and was twice named first-team all-state.{{Cite web|url=https://ballstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/ray-wilborn/8352|publisher=Ball State Cardinals|title=Ray Wilborn}} Wilborn was a two-time captain and as a junior set the school record for single-season sacks with 18. He also played on offense, and as a senior caught 14 touchdown passes and recorded 970 receiving yards.
College career
Wilborn began his college football career at Garden City Community College in 2016, helping them win the national championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2020/10/24/21530690/taking-a-closer-look-at-the-steelers-newest-practice-squad-lb-ray-wilborn-ball-state-mac-nfl-news|website=Behind The Steel Curtain|author=White, Shannon|date=October 24, 2020|title=Taking a closer look at the Steelers newest practice squad LB Ray Wilborn|agency=SB Nation}} In two seasons with Garden City, he posted 120 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 23 {{abbr|TFLs|tackles-for-loss}} while appearing in 23 games.
In 2018, Wilborn transferred to Ball State. Joining the school in January, he started all 12 games for the football team as an outside linebacker, leading them in both TFLs (10.5) and tackles (83). He made his first career interception against Notre Dame and later made one against NIU, the latter of which he returned for 43 yards.
As a senior in 2019, Wilborn changed from linebacker to safety after the team needed a player at the position.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115676673/the-star-press/|newspaper=The Star Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 24, 2020|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115676840/the-star-press/ B2]|title=Draft won't effect Wilborn's confidence|author=Guskey, Jordan}} {{Open access}} That season, he started all 12 games and posted 83 tackles, placing third on the team. He also made two interceptions, against NC State and Eastern Michigan, and tied for fourth on Ball State with six pass breakups.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/2
| weight = 230
| arm span = 32 1/4
| hand span = 9 5/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1017356&DraftYear=2020 |title=2020 Draft Scout Ray Wilborn, Ball State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=March 21, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=Atlanta Falcons=
Although projected by some as a seventh round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Wilborn ultimately went unselected, and afterwards was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/2020/04/25/austin-edwards-ray-wilborn-sign-atlanta-falcons-undrafted-free-agents/3028817001/|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|title=Atlanta Falcons reach deals with Greater Lansing graduates Austin Edwards, Ray Wilborn|author=Callaway, Brian|date=April 25, 2020}} He was waived at the final roster cuts, on September 5.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29803222/2020-nfl-cuts-all-32-teams-out|publisher=ESPN|title=2020 NFL cuts for all 32 teams: Who's in and who's out|date=September 5, 2020}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
On October 23, 2020, he was signed to the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers,{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/nfl-pittsburgh-football-james-conner-pittsburgh-steelers-40c44d151736bb57deeebec9d3035188|publisher=Associated Press|title=Steelers RB Conner letting play do talking during hot start|author=Graves, Will|date=October 23, 2020}} only to be released on November 17.{{Cite web|url=https://sportsforecaster.com/nfl/p/185663/Ray_Wilborn/transactions|website=Sports Forecaster|title=Ray Wilborn Transactions & Injuries}}
=Green Bay Packers=
In January 2021, Wilborn was signed by the Green Bay Packers to a future contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2021/1/8/22220453/packers-sign-defensive-back-innis-gaines-two-others-to-futures-contracts|website=Acme Packing Company|agency=SB Nation|title=Packers sign defensive back Innis Gaines, two others to futures contracts|author=Meerdink, Jon|date=January 8, 2021}} He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on July 24, and was then activated on August 4. Wilborn was released at the end of August, during the final roster cuts, and was afterwards brought back as a member of the practice squad.{{Cite web|url=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/lists/analyzing-packers-complete-69-player-roster-to-start-2021/|website=USA Today|title=Analyzing Packers' complete 69-player roster to start 2021|author=Kruse, Zach|date=September 1, 2021}} He was placed on the COVID-19 list for a second time on December 31,{{Cite web|url=https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2021/12/31/22861790/green-bay-packers-minnesota-vikings-week-17-injury-update-tyler-lancaster|website=Acme Packing Company|agency=SB Nation|title=Packers injury update: DT Tyler Lancaster listed as questionable vs Vikings|date=December 31, 2021|author=Mosqueda, Justis}} later receiving activation on January 5, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2022/1/5/22869251/green-bay-packers-injury-update-week-18-detroit-lions-david-bakhtiari-josh-myers-practice-wednesday|website=Acme Packing Company|agency=SB Nation|title=Packers injury update: T David Bakhtiari and C Josh Myers practice on Wednesday|date=January 5, 2022|author=Mosqueda, Justis}} Wilborn was signed to a future contract again on January 25, 2022, after spending the entire 2021 season on the practice squad.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/packers/news/packers-sign-rocket-fast-receiver-to-futures-contract|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Packers Sign Rocket-Fast Receiver to Futures Contract|author=Huber, Bill|date=January 25, 2022}} He was released by the Packers on August 30, 2022, at the final roster cuts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.packers.com/news/packers-keep-two-rbs-seven-wrs-heres-the-initial-2022-roster|publisher=Green Bay Packers|title=Packers keep two RBs, seven WRs: Here's the initial 2022 roster|date=August 30, 2022|author=Hodkiewicz, Wes}}
=Denver Broncos=
Wilborn received a tryout from the Denver Broncos in November 2022,{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-tried-8-players-week-130005482.html|website=Yahoo! Sports|title=Broncos tried out 8 players this week, including a quarterback|author=Heath, Jon|date=November 24, 2022}} and was afterwards signed to their practice squad on November 22.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-lb-dakota-allen-off-browns-practice-squad-place-rb-chase-edmonds-on|publisher=Denver Broncos|title=Broncos sign LB Dakota Allen off Browns' practice squad, place RB Chase Edmonds on injured reserve|author=DiLalla, Aric|date=November 22, 2022}} He was elevated to the active roster for the Broncos' Week 17 game with the Kansas City Chiefs,{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2022/12/31/randy-gregory-broncos-injured-reserve-fined/|newspaper=The Denver Post|title=Broncos OLB Randy Gregory placed on injured reserve with knee issues, fined further for Christmas Day outbursts vs. Rams |author=Gabriel, Parker|date=December 31, 2022}} and made his NFL debut in the loss, appearing on 14 special teams snaps. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.{{cite web|title=Broncos sign nine players to future contracts|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-nine-players-to-future-contracts|author=Swanson, Ben|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=January 9, 2023}} He was waived on August 14, 2023.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Broncos sign WR J.J. Koski, waive LB Ray Wilborn |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-wr-j-j-koski-waive-lb-ray-wilborn |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=DenverBroncos.com}}
=New York Giants=
On August 15, 2023, Wilborn was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants.{{Cite web |last=Alper|first=Josh |date=2023-08-15 |title=Giants claim LB Ray Wilborn off waivers |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/giants-claim-lb-ray-wilborn-off-waivers |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} He was waived on August 29.{{cite web|title=Giants announce 53-man roster for 2023|url=https://www.giants.com/news/new-york-giants-roster-2023-nfl-season-joe-schoen-brian-daboll-transactions|author=Eisen, Michael|website=Giants.com|date=August 29, 2023}}
=Hamilton Tiger-Cats=
Wilborn signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on February 28, 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/cfl/fannation/news/hamilton-tiger-cats-sign-former-nfl-defenders-ray-wilborn-michael-jacquet | title=Hamilton Tiger-Cats Sign Two Former NFL Defenders | publisher=si.com | date=February 28, 2024 | accessdate=February 29, 2024 | author=Miller, Anthony}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ticats.ca/players/ray-wilborn/165944/ Hamilton Tiger-Cats bio]
{{Hamilton Tiger-Cats roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilborn, Ray}}
Category:American football safeties
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Players of American football from Lansing, Michigan
Category:Garden City Broncbusters football players
Category:Ball State Cardinals football players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:New York Giants players
Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players