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WR Ray Small (official thread)

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Small makes most of chance
By TOM WILSON • CentralOhio.com • October 11, 2009

COLUMBUS -- So much has been expected of Ohio State wide receiver and kick returner Ray Small during his four-years at Ohio State.
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The 5-foot-11 senior out of Glenville High School has been compared to high school teammate Ted Ginn Jr. as a player who can go the distance every time he touches the ball.

For Small, though, it's been an up-and-down four years, and he's been in and out of OSU coach Jim Tressel's doghouse -- even having his No. 4 taken away last year.

Used sparingly this season as a receiver and getting most of his action as a punt returner, Small was inserted on the kickoff return team in place of Dan Herron, and Small made the most of his opportunity.

Helped by a key block from Storm Klein, Small returned a kickoff in the third quarter 96 yards for a touchdown to give the Buckeyes a little more breathing room in a 31-13 victory against Wisconsin on Saturday in front of 105,301 at Ohio Stadium.

"I let my frustrations out on that return," Small said. "I couldn't believe the ball was coming to me because they've been kicking away from me all year, but when it came to me, I just followed my wedge and it parted like the Red Sea and I just ran through it.

"Once I crossed the goal line, I looked back to make sure there were no flags."
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http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910110340

Tomorrow is finally today as OSU's Small comes up big
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist

Columbus

- It wasn't Ted Ginn. But it was Ted again.

For a few seconds, as Ray Small burst out of the shadows of the Horseshoe and into the golden slashes of sun, loosening a tight game against Wisconsin with the kind of open-field speed that had not been seen at Ohio State in three seasons, he stopped the clock.

Really.

No time ran off the clock because of a timing malfunction. But it also seemed as if the senior wide receiver had hit "pause," and the dis- appointments, the controver sies, and the days in disfavor had all halted, too.

This was just as everyone thought it would be when he came to Ohio State as part of the Glenville stimulus package. The way he ran was the way Ted Ginn Jr. did.

It was the mystery of effortless speed. No muscles tying up. No stumbles. No flags.

"He looked like he was shot out of a gun," said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. "He took that thing and he downshifted and he was gone. It did look a little bit like Teddy."
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Tomorrow is finally today as OSU's Small comes up big - Cleveland.com

Ray commenting after the game...

http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2009/10/ohio_states_ray_small_kurt_col.html
 
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Did anybody notice on both of his big returns yesterday (one being called back for block in the back I believe) he took the ball straight up the field, no hesitation and bouncing around, just hit the seam and go. IMO this seems to be the way to go barring the odd cut back against the seam that works now and then but is totally unplanned. Of course running full speed is a good way to get your head taken off but I guess a kick returner needs to be fearless, right? Anyways glad to see him break one and hopefully it spreads to everybody else on the return team...:oh:
 
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I'm happy for Ray. He's kind of gone back and forth between dancing and hitting it right up in there (esp on punt returns). Nothing seemed to be working. You could tell he was getting a little frustrated the past few games. The hole the return team made was huge.

I'm not sure why they don't go back to 2 returners on the punt return team though. All the guy needs is a little room to catch, get up to speed and find a small crease. The Buckeye punt return team seems to have a difficult time blocking the initial gunners on the outside and Small has a guy draped all over him as soon as he catches the ball. If they could pick up that first guy down the field, give him an extra second to make the first guy miss, I think the punt return team becomes more explosive second half of the year as well. It's all about making the first guy miss when you have a guy like Samll with that much speed.

Great defensive effort yesterday. The most difficult games are still to come. Offense has to improve.

:oh::io:
 
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Ray ripping a HUGE monkey off his back......PRESSURE RELEASED......


I'M FREEEEEEEE!!!!!!!


09-10-10-FB-1675.jpg
 
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Just wanted to add my congrats to Ray for his breakout kickoff return. We always knew you had it in you. Hopefully more to come. But also wanted to say kudos to Coaches Tressell and Hazell for putting Ray out in front of the media to allow him his moment in the sun. They had faith in Ray, more than many of the rest of us, and their faith is being repaid. Ray looks like a weight has been lifted.

"I just followed my wedge and it parted like the Red Sea and I just ran through it." Poetic. I love it.
 
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