SS/OLB, Miami (Fla.)
Twitter handle: boom_king26
Rankings: 17th-ranked strong safety by Pro Football Weekly. Grade: 5.00, 50/50 to make a NFL roster or practice squad.
NFLDraftScout: 13th-ranked strong safety, #315 player overall, 7th-round/free agent grade.
Scouts Inc: 29th-ranked safety, ranked as a free agent. Grade: 30, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/honors:
2012: Did not play. Banned from Miami football program after lying to school officials investigating potential improper benefits. He had tweeted a picture of an expensive hotel room where his girlfriend was staying but initially denied he was there. Enrolled at Faulkner University in Alabama but NAIA would not grant him eligibility because he had been banned from a sport.
2011: Played in seven games, starting one. 34 tackles, 2 pass breakups, one interception and a fumble recovery.
Suspended four games by the NCAA in September for taking benefits (a Sean Taylor jersey) from booster Nevin Shapiro as a recruit in violation of NCAA rules. Suspended for another game in November by the university, related to a dinner paid for by his girlfriend, who worked for a P.R. firm that represents athletes and was believed to be a "runner" for agents.
2010: Second team all-ACC. Miami had the #1 pass defense in the conference. Played in 13 games, starting three. 79 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 3 interceptions (one returned for TD), 4.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble.
2009: Played in 10 games. 21 tackles, one pass breakup, no interceptions.
Major: none listed, but Armstrong graduated from Miami in December.
Injuries:
2009: Missed three games due to a knee injury.
Pro day results: (NFL Combine safety averages in parentheses)
4.69 40 (4.61)
1.62 10-yard split
34.5” vertical jump (36.25”)
9'8" broad jump (10'3.5")
7.20 3-cone drill (6.87)
4.24 20-yard shuttle (4.19)
18 bench press (17)
Positives: Appeared to be a rising star after his sophomore season, before the Shapiro controversy hit. Was likened to a young Sean Taylor, whose number he wore, at times. Had some 3rd-4th round grades. Safety speed in a linebacker's frame. Excellent size and length. Muscular and well-built. Matches up well physically with tight ends. Excellent and aggressive run defender. Sheds run blocks well. Recognizes run well and arrives in a hurry. Delivers pop as a tackler. Tough and doesn't shy from contact. Big and strong enough to develop into an effective in-the-box safety. Experienced special teams player. Not a bad kid, just wants too hard to be around the high life. Volunteered as a coach at Faulkner after he was declared ineligible to play.
Negatives: Was suspended as many games as he started. Did not play in 2012 and was a glorified backup in 2011. Just average speed for a safety. Pro day numbers were nothing special. Lacks speed and athleticism to cover slot receivers. Lots of holes in his game. Gives up too many big plays, can't be trusted with deep cover responsibility. Watches QB too much and lets receivers behind him. Does not read QB or recognize routes well. Takes ridiculously bad gambles. Takes bad angles and misses his run fits. Inconsistent tackler. Poor recovery speed. Doesn't track ball well over shoulder and has dropped some INTs. Doesn't break down well in space and misses too many open-field tackles. Can't trust him to be in the correct place to make the play. Leaves his assignment trying for the big hit or big play and gives up a bigger play. Has a huge ego, a big mouth and questionable personal judgment.
Compares to: Taylor Mays.
Fun Facts: Ray Ray's birth name is Aravious, which the kids in school couldn't pronounce, so his mother gave him the nickname. The past two summers, he and his father have put on a free youth football camp in his hometown of Sanford, Fla.
RamView: Armstrong won comparisons to a young Sean Taylor in college but the Rams don't seem to be betting on that potential; early reports say they're trying him out at OLB. The quality UDFA competition there or at safety was always going to make it hard for Armstrong even to squeeze out a practice-squad slot. He hasn't played in a year and needs major improvement on fundamentals like positioning and tackling. Now add that he's a tweener learning a new position. That's a lot to overcome to make a quick, positive impression. RamView just doesn't see another Robert Quinn or Janoris Jenkins comeback story in the offing here.
Chance of making team: 10%.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, NFLDraftScout, Sporting News, Wikipedia, University of Miami athletics, Miami Herald, Scouts, Inc., National Football Post, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel, Canespace blog
Photo: Palm Beach Post
1 comment:
As of this writing Ray Ray has proved himself and might get a spot at the 53 man roster.
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