The Kentucky football season is Dylan Ray (73) days away

Offensively lineman Dylan Ray is a key member of the 2024 offensive lineman.

If the Kentucky football team is to succeed in 2024, it will need the offensive line to perform at a high level. They have plenty of experience, with Juniors and Seniors all over the expected starting group. One of them is guard Dylan Ray.

Ray was a lightly recruited offensive lineman in the 2021 class. He enrolled at West Virginia, and redshirted that season, before playing minimally for the Mountaineers in 2022. Before the 2023 season, he transferred to Kentucky, and wound up starting 10 games.

Related: Kentucky is top 20 in PFF power rankings

At 6’6″, and 305 lbs, Ray has plenty of size. With his starting experience from last year, he’s expected to be the starting left guard in 2024. His rise from walk-on at WVU to starter with the Wildcats has been impressive.

With a new quarterback and new set of running backs, the offensive line is going to be key. Whether Ray starts at left guard, or is a backup at multiple positions, he is an important member of the team.

Alabama pitcher Dylan Ray selected in fourth round of 2022 MLB Draft

Alabama relief pitcher Dylan Ray selected No. 108 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Another Alabama pitcher heard his name called in the 2022 MLB draft. On Monday, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Alabama relief pitcher Dylan Ray with the No. 108 overall pick of the 2022 MLB draft.

Ray spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Coach Brad Bohannon called on Ray multiple times in adverse situations. When it comes to adversity, Ray has been faced with plenty of it in his time at Alabama. As a freshman, he suffered a season-ending injury before the start of the season.

As a result, Ray would have to redshirt that year and return to the mound this past spring for the Tide. In his redshirt-freshman season, he compiled a 1-4 record with a 4.60 ERA. The numbers don’t do any justice for how well Ray pitched. In 31.1 innings pitched, he allowed 23 hits while striking out a total of 49 batters and walking only 15 batters.

Although the numbers don’t appear stellar, Ray made the Freshman All-SEC Team and was also selected as a Freshman All-American by College Baseball News. The Alabama native will have to decide on whether he wants to pursue professional opportunities with the Diamondbacks or return to Tuscaloosa for another season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama baseball and the players making their way to the major leagues.

Alabama downs Arkansas to keep hot streak alive

Alabama grabbed their second win in the SEC Tournament by striking early and fighting off a comeback effort.

The Alabama Crimson Tide just keeps finding ways to win.

For the second day in a row, Alabama grabbed a win by taking an early lead and fighting off a comeback attempt by their opponent in the SEC Tournament. On Wednesday, the victim was Arkansas, who Alabama defeated, 4-3 at the Hoover Met.

After defeating Georgia on Tuesday to move into the double-elimination portion of the bracket at the SEC Tournament, Alabama got a tough draw in the no. 3 seed Arkansas Razorbacks.

While Arkansas has been a top-10 team all season, they have faltered in recent weeks, especially against Alabama. The Crimson Tide closed the regular season by taking two-of-three games from the Razorbacks in Tuscaloosa and had another shot to keep their momentum going.

Alabama struck first in the 2nd inning. With the bases loaded [autotag]Tommy Siedl[/autotag] reached base with a fielder’s choice, which allowed [autotag]Dominic Tamez[/autotag] to score to give Alabama the 1-0 lead. However, a throwing error by Arkansas allowed an additional run. After [autotag]Zane Denton[/autotag] crossed the plate, the Tide found themselves up, 2-0.

The Tide extended their lead by two runs over the next two innings. [autotag]Caden Rose[/autotag] scored on a sacrifice fly by [autotag]Drew Williamson[/autotag]in the 3rd inning, and another Razorback error led to Siedl scoring, setting up Alabama with a 4-1 lead.

Much like Tuesday’s game with Georgia, Arkansas used the long ball to trim the Tide lead, but it would not be enough. Jalen Battles hit a solo home run to left center in the 3rd inning, and Chris Lanzilli hit a two-run blast in the 6th to cut the lead to 4-3.

In a game that saw just nine hits total by both teams, Drew Williamson recorded two of Alabama’s four hits. Zane Denton and [autotag]Bryce Eblin[/autotag] picked up the other two.

The Crimson Tide used five pitchers in the game, with [autotag]Antoine Jean[/autotag] grabbing the win for Alabama. [autotag]Dylan Ray[/autotag] was instrumental for the second straight day, as he picked up his 8th save of the season by striking out the only batter he faced in the 9th.

Alabama will now await the winner of Tennessee-Vanderbilt. Due to weather yet again altering the schedule, Tennessee will face Vanderbilt at 9:30 a.m. CDT Thursday morning, meaning that Alabama’s next game will be determined at a later time.

Alabama baseball can’t get it done against No. 1 Texas; Tide loses 1-0

It was a close one, but Alabama can’t get it done against No. 1 Texas in Game 1.

Alabama baseball fought hard against the No. 1-ranked team in the nation on Friday night in its first matchup of the three-game series against the Texas Longhorns.

The only run scored in the game came from a wild pitch off the hand of Alabama reliever Dylan Ray in the bottom of the 7th, who was fresh off the bench to take his spot on the mound.

 

Garrett McMillan got the nod to start for the Crimson Tide on the mound on Friday night, and he did not disappoint after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing just three hits and two walks through 84 pitches.

The Crimson Tide had several opportunities to put runs on the board in this one, including a bases loaded situation at the top of of the 8th inning. Unfortunately, Alabama couldn’t capitalize and drops Game 1 in Austin.

The Tide will try again on Saturday night in Game 2 of this highly-anticipated series.

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