Ray played his high school football for the O.H. Cooper High School Cougars in Abilene, Texas and was named as a Parade Magazine High School All-American as a senior during the 1981–1982 school year. (See, Abilene Reporter News, May 12, 1982, page 2C)[citation needed]
At Baylor University, Ray was named as Sports Illustrated College Football Defensive Player of the Week for his role, including a game-saving interception near the end of the game, in Baylor's upset of #2 ranked University of Southern California in Los Angeles.[1] He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round with the 44th overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft.[2]
In 2005, Ray was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Honor[3] and was named as a Legend of Baylor Football in 2007.[4]
