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Clemson product Ray-Ray McCloud is one of two wide receivers that the Buffalo Bills took in 2018 NFL Draft. The Bills selected McCloud with the 13th pick of the sixth round (187th overall), before taking Austin Proehl in the seventh.
The 21-year-old McCloud spent the past three season with Celmson, where he totalled 127 receptions for 1,226 yards and four touchdowns in 40 career games. A dynamic return man, McCloud totalled 485 yards and a touchdown on 50 career punt returns and 138 yards on four kickoffs. He was named a second-team All-American punter returner in 2017 by Pro Football Focus, and an an Honorable Mention All-ACC that season as well as an all-purpose player.
Here’s what McCloud said during his ifirst nteraction with the media as a member of the Bills:
Q: Well, there’s no team that needs more help at wide receiver. [Are] you pretty happy to be coming to the Bills?
A: It’s an honor to be chosen by the Buffalo Bills, drafted, and [I’m] just ready to work and very hungry.
Q: Do you see an opportunity given that this team maybe has more than one hole to fill here?
A: Being drafted by the Buffalo Bills is an opportunity itself and I’m just going in to work and do what I’m asked. When the opportunity presents itself, I’m going to take advantage of it.
Q: Ray-Ray, the knock and the criticism coming at this level is that you don’t have a true position, but you have played all over the field. Where do you think you fit in at the NFL level?
A: [At] wide receiver with the ball in my hands.
Q: Can you actually expand on that a little bit? I know you were an outstanding running back in high school with the ball in your hands.
A: I can play anywhere on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously I played defense in college. I’m dominant with the ball in my hands, and that’s where I see myself at.
Q: Do you prefer lining up in the slot, though? Do you want to be on the outside? Where do you feel most comfortable?
A: Wherever I’m asked to be put, I can play most positions on the offensive side of the ball.
Q: You’ve been pretty accomplished as a return man, Ray-Ray. As far as that goes, is that the running back background that has had a lot to do with your ability to succeed in open space?
A: I can say that, yes sir. Definitely. Running back game came naturally to me and just being able to read holes and be explosive. That carried over for me in college and I’ve been able to explode through little creases during punt return and being comfortable back there.
Q: Do you think that gives you, the return ability, gives you a decent path to make a decent impact as a rookie? To at least find a spot?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: What do you know about Buffalo? Anything?
A: I know that’s where Sammy Watkins went. It’s about to be my new home. Shaq Lawson actually just called me right before this call. I’m going to cherish every moment that I’m here and take advantage of the opportunity that Buffalo’s given me.
Q: What did Shaq tell you?
A: Just congratulations. We’re boys [so we’re going to] turn up, we’re about to have fun out here, about to go in and be ready to work.
Q: How did you get the nickname Ray-Ray?
A: That was my dad’s name and that was just something I was born into.
Q: Why should Bills fans be excited about you coming to Buffalo?
A: The energy that I bring and the hunger that I have under me right now, I just definitely feel [that I’m] going to bring a different me. I know, for me, I’m going to bring everything out of me and they’re going to get everything [I] got, that I’ve got in me. For me, it’s more just playing hard, bringing home wins, helping the team win, and helping Buffalo bring home a championship.
Q: What do you know about the quarterback the Bills drafted, Josh Allen?
A: I’ve actually watched him a few times, even before the draft; one of my good friends is at Wyoming, so that’s how I knew about him. He’s definitely a heck of a quarterback. He probably has the strongest arm in the draft. That was a great choice for the Buffalo Bills to take him first.
Q: Ray-Ray, we saw on Instagram that you were in a bad car accident one time. How did that change your outlook on life?
A: Don’t take nothing for granted [and] any minute of the day you can be gone. I actually had some of my best friends with me in the car. All of us walked out of there, it was a while ago, but it’s a miracle. All of [the] guys were walking and just got scratches on the guys. It just brought me closer to the Lord.