2015 NFL Draft: Top Prospect Shane Ray Cited for Drug Possession
Top prospect Shane Ray has been cited for misdemeanor possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana and issued a traffic violation for failing to drive in the right lane just days before the 2015 NFL Draft.
Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Corporal Scott White stated that Ray, the former Missouri Tigers defensive end/ outside linebacker, was pulled over Monday morning at 5:46 a.m. for speeding westbound on Interstate 70. The officer who pulled Ray over detected the smell of fresh marijuana and conducted a search, which yielded a "personal amount" of the drug.
The officer stated that Ray was cooperative and had no apparent signs of impairment. Ray was issued a warning for speeding and was not taken into custody.
Ray issued an apology Monday night. The statement read:
"I'd like to apologize to my Mother, Fans and prospective NFL teams for my poor judgment Monday morning. I am embarrassed and realize there are consequences for my actions. I was not under the influence nor impaired, therefore I was not detained. Fortunately, Monday's incident only resulted in a citation. I will make better choices in the future.
It is imperative that I continue to strive to better myself. My future NFL career has been something I have always dreamed about and is very important to me. I commit that my actions will represent that. There are no excuses here and I will take the necessary steps to ensure this will not happen again. I will not jeopardize my ability to have a positive impact on and off the field moving forward."
Ray will appear in Cooper County court on June 30.
Ray is projected to be selected in the first round. He made all 14 starts for the Tigers this past season and recorded 61 tackles and 14 sacks. Ray was the SEC defensive player of the year.
