Ray Graham

Raymond E. Graham (born September 18, 1990) is an American football running back. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers.

For the English playwright, see Ray Harrison Graham.

Ray Graham
Free agent
Position:Running Back
Personal information
Born: (1990-09-18) September 18, 1990
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Elizabeth High School
College:Pittsburgh
Undrafted:2013
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2016
Attempts:4
Rushing yards:8
Yards per carry:2.0
Rushing TDs:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Graham attended Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.[1] He was a first team All-Union County, and was Union County Player of the Year after he rushed for 1,592 yards and averaged nine yards per carry, scoring 24 touchdowns to lead Union County with 144 points. He saw limited time as a junior due to a preseason collarbone injury but returned late in the year and rushed for 750 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in Elizabeth's final four games. He rushed for 1,290 yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore. He was a four-year letterman who helped Elizabeth to a 30-12 mark (.714) during his varsity career.

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated as the 11th all-purpose back in the nation. He accepted a scholarship from Pittsburgh over offers from Rutgers and Maryland.[2]

College career

As a freshman in 2009, he gained 349 yards, including a 53-yard run against Notre Dame. The USA Today reported that "Graham ran through half of the Notre Dame defense on a 53-yard run that led to his 2-yard score one play later."[3]

As a sophomore in 2010, Graham rushed for 922 yard and averaged 6.2 yards per carry.[4] On October 2, 2010, he had a career-high 277 rushing yards against FIU.[5] His total against FIU was the second-highest in Pitt football history, trailing only Tony Dorsett's 303-yard game against Notre Dame in 1975.[6]

Through seven games of the 2011 season, Graham led the nation in rushing yards with 945 yards and nine touchdowns on 162 carries.[7] He also has 200 receiving yards on 20 receptions. However, his season came to an abrupt end after he sustained a torn right ACL against Connecticut in the second quarter on October 26, 2011.[8]

Graham returned from his injury in 2012, gaining 1,042 rushing yards on 222 carries, with 11 touchdowns, along with 340 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. Graham put up a personal best for 2012 against National Championship contenders Notre Dame. He recorded 172 yards on 24 attempts averaging 7.2 yards a carry, and 1 touchdown. His efforts helped the Panthers take the game into three overtimes only to come up a field goal shy of a victory.[9]

Professional career

After not being selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, Graham signed with the Houston Texans on April 27, 2013 as an undrafted free agent.[10] He was released on August 26, 2013 and was subsequently signed to the practice squad by the Steelers on November 19, 2013. On December 25, 2013, the Houston Texans signed him to their 53-man roster. Graham was subsequently cut after training camp in 2014.

Personal life

Graham is the brother of Detroit Lions linebacker Khaseem Greene.

References
  1. Samuel, Ebenezer. "With his dad, Big Ray Graham, in prison, Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene stayed the course and is now days away from NFL", New York Daily News, April 13, 2013. Accessed November 2, 2019. "Big Ray never wanted things this way. As a youngster in Elizabeth's Pioneer Homes projects in the 1980s, he'd foreshadowed his son, flashing even more freakish football ability than his son would show decades later. By the time Big Ray reached Elizabeth High, he'd emerged as a dangerous dual-threat signal-caller."
  2. https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Raymond-Graham-70350
  3. "No. 9 Pittsburgh withstands Notre Dame rally for 27-22 win". USA Today. November 15, 2009.
  4. Ray Graham Statistics at ESPN.com
  5. "Graham's 277 yards takes Pitt past FIU". The Morning Call. October 2, 2010.
  6. John Grupp (October 3, 2010). "Graham rushes for 277 yards in Pitt's win". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  7. FBS (Division I-A) Statistics - 2011
  8. http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/24156338/32956298
  9. http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/482843/ray-graham
  10. Bien, Louis (April 28, 2013). "Undrafted Free Agents 2013: Collin Klein Among 23 New Texans Post-Draft". SB Nation. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
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