Ray-Ray_McCloud

Ray-Ray McCloud

Ray-Ray McCloud

American football player (born 1996)

Raymond McCloud III (born October 15, 1996) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson.

Quick Facts No. 34 – Atlanta Falcons, Position: ...

Early years

McCloud attended Sickles High School in Tampa, Florida and played on the Gryphons football team as a running back.[1] As a senior, he rushed for 1,933 yards and 17 touchdowns. For his high school career, he had 5,765 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns.[2] He committed to play football for the Clemson Tigers in July 2014, choosing them over the likes of Alabama, Auburn, and Florida.[3]

College career

As a freshman in 2015, McCloud played in 12 games, catching 29 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown.[4] He missed three games due to a knee injury.[5]

In 2016, as a sophomore, McCloud played in 14 of Clemson's 15 games, missing one due to an ankle injury.[6] In those 14 games, he tallied 49 receptions for 472 yards and two touchdowns, helping Clemson win the National Championship.[7]

As a junior in 2017, McCloud played in all 14 of Clemson's games, tallying 49 receptions for 503 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 25 punts for 303 yards and one touchdown.[8] After the season, he declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.[9]

Statistics

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Professional career

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Buffalo Bills

McCloud was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round with the 187th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.[12] In Week 3, in a 27–6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, he made his first professional reception and had a 13-yard punt return.[13]

On August 31, 2019, McCloud was waived by the Bills.[14]

Carolina Panthers

On September 1, 2019, McCloud was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers.[15] He was waived on October 15, 2019.[16]

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

On October 17, 2019, McCloud was signed to the Bills practice squad.[17] In addition to serving as a wide receiver, McCloud served as the scout team quarterback, emulating the style of mobile quarterbacks the Bills face that week.[18] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bills on January 6, 2020.[19] He was waived on July 27, 2020.[20]

Pittsburgh Steelers

McCloud with the Steelers in 2020

On August 21, 2020, McCloud signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[21] McCloud signed a one-year contract extension with the Steelers on March 11, 2021.[22] McCloud became the Steelers' primary return specialist, returning 28 kickoffs for 646 yards and 29 punts with an average of 10.7 yards. He was named by Pro Football Focus on its All-Pro roster as a second-team return specialist.[23][24]

In 2021, McCloud led the NFL in total punt-return yards gained.[25] He recorded 39 receptions for 277 receiving yards on the season.[26]

San Francisco 49ers

On March 22, 2022, McCloud signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.[27] On October 23, in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, McCloud scored his first career touchdown on an 8–yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo.[28] McCloud finished the 2022 season with 14 receptions for 243 yards and one receiving touchdown to go with a rushing touchdown. He handled some kickoff and punt return duties on special teams.[29]

McCloud was placed on injured reserve on December 9, 2023.[30] He was activated on January 6, 2024.[31] He finished the 2023 season with 12 receptions for 135 yards while handling some kickoff and punt return duties.[32] The 49ers reached Super Bowl LVIII, but lost 25-22 to the Kansas City Chiefs. In the Super Bowl, McCloud had 1 catch for 19 yards.

Atlanta Falcons

On March 18, 2024, McCloud signed a two-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[33]

Personal life

McCloud is the older brother of Jordan McCloud who was the starting quarterback for James Madison.[34] On December 1, 2023, McCloud announced that he was once again entering the transfer portal and would leave James Madison.

References

  1. [1]
    Thomson, Peter (February 3, 2015). "Meet Tampa Sickles RB Ray-Ray McCloud". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  2. [2]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud Bio". Clemson Tigers Official Athletic Site. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  3. [3]
    "Four-star running back Ray-Ray McCloud commits to Clemson". Sports Illustrated. July 29, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud 2015 Player Statistics". cfbstats.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  5. [5]
    Amato, Michael (November 7, 2015). "Clemson's McCloud out vs. Florida State with apparent knee injury". theScore.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  6. [6]
    "College Football Injury Report: Week 11". fansided.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  7. [7]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud 2016 Player Statistics". cfbstats.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud 2017 Player Statistics". cfbstats.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  9. [9]
    Raynor, Grace (January 7, 2018). "Clemson junior receiver Ray-Ray McCloud to declare for 2018 NFL Draft". The Post And Courier. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  10. [10]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  11. [11]
    "2018 Draft Scout Ray-Ray McCloud, Clemson NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  12. [12]
    Murphy, John (April 28, 2018). "5 things to know about Ray-Ray McCloud". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  13. [13]
    "Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings – September 23rd, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  14. [14]
    Brown, Chris (August 31, 2019). "Bills cut roster down to 53 players". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  15. [15]
    Henson, Max (September 1, 2019). "Panthers part with Torrey Smith, Elijah Holyfield, Kevon Seymour to make three waiver claims". Panthers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  16. [16]
    Smith, Bradley (October 15, 2019). "The Panthers have released Ray-Ray McCloud". Cat Scratch Reader. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  17. [17]
    Silagyi, Kyle (October 17, 2019). "Bills add WR Ray-Ray McCloud to practice squad". Bills Wire. USA Today. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  18. [18]
    Fairburn, Matt (December 4, 2019). "Lorenzo Alexander said Ray-Ray McCloud is helping the Bills simulate Lamar Jackson in practice this week". The Athletic via Twitter. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  19. [19]
    Brown, Chris (January 6, 2020). "Bills sign 10 reserve/future free agents". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  20. [20]
    Glab, Maddy (July 27, 2020). "Bills release WR Ray-Ray McCloud III, OL Garrett McGhin". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  21. [21]
    Varley, Teresa (August 21, 2020). "Steelers sign McCloud". Steelers.com. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  22. [22]
    Varley, Teresa (March 11, 2021). "McCloud signed to a one-year contract". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  23. [23]
    Zasky, Jason (January 6, 2021). "3 Steelers Named to PFF's All-Pro Team". Heavy.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  24. [24]
    Monson, Sam (January 4, 2021). "PFF's 2020 NFL All-Pro Team: Aaron Rodgers, Derrick Henry and Aaron Donald highlight PFF's All-Pro roster". PFF. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  25. [25]
    "Punt Returns 2021 Season". NFL.com. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  26. [26]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  27. [27]
    "49ers Sign WR Ray-Ray McCloud". 49ers.com. March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  28. [28]
    Senkiw, Brad (October 23, 2022). "Ray-Ray McCloud Records First Career TD". SI.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  29. [29]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  30. [30]
    "49ers Place McCloud III on Injured Reserve, Promote a WR to the Active Roster and More Moves Ahead of #SEAvsSF". 49ers.com. December 9, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  31. [31]
    Alper, Josh (January 6, 2024). "49ers activate Ray-Ray McCloud, rule out Jauan Jennings". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  32. [32]
    "Ray-Ray McCloud 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  33. [33]
    Waack, Terrin (March 18, 2024). "Falcons sign veteran receiver and returner Ray-Ray McCloud". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  34. [34]
    Keesee, Andrew (August 25, 2021). "Gaither linebacker not living in older brothers' shadows". WTVT. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
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