Auburn Football: Four Under the Radar Players to Watch This Spring

Aug 30, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Melvin Ray (82) scores a touchdown in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Melvin Ray, Wide Receiver

In the season opener against Arkansas, Melvin Ray was on the receiving end of a Jeremy Johnson pass, broke a tackle and raced to the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

The pass marked a terrific start to the season for the Tigers, and was the second straight game the Tallahassee native scored a touchdown (he had a 50-yard TD reception against Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game). Ray had only seven catches and 133 yards over the next eleven games, but his TD against the Razorbacks could be a sign of things to come in 2015.

With Sammie Coates moving on to the NFL and Quan Bray graduating, the Tigers need a third wide receiver to step up in the starting lineup with 2014’s leading pass catcher D’haquille Williams and fellow rising senior Ricardo Louis.

With Williams one of the SEC’s most dangerous offensive weapons and Louis a perfect fit in the slot (he’s the Tigers’ leading returning rusher after all after gaining 220 yards on only 18 carries out of the slot last season), the Tigers need a third starter on the outside.

At 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, Ray has the perfect frame for the position. With three seasons in the Auburn football program, and two in Gus Malzahn’s offensive system, Ray also has the experience necessary to make a big impact next year.

Next: T.J. Davis