Tag: Ray-Ray McCloud

Photo Gallery- No. 34 Ray-Ray McCloud 2015-18

34 days until kickoff!

Only 34 more days stand between the Tigers and gameday against Georgia. While Clemson fans wait those few extra days, it’s nice to look back on memories to pass the time. Today, it’s Ray-Ray McCloud III.

McCloud wore the No. 34 jersey for his first two seasons, but in his junior year, McCloud switched to 21 against No. 20 NC State, where he returned a 77-yard punt for a touchdown. He chose 34 in honor of his father, who wore it when he played for Arkansas and his grandfather.

While at Clemson, McCloud brought in 127 receptions for 1,226 yards and four touchdowns. He started in 20 games and played in 40, averaging 30.6 yards per game.

McCloud has spent the last five years in the NFL, bouncing between four teams. Initially, he was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He played one season at Buffalo, then Carolina for a season, Pittsburgh for two, and two more in San Francisco, including the 49ers Superbowl run last season. After his two-year contract ended with San Francisco, McCloud signed with Atlanta to play in 2024.

Here are some of the best photos of McCloud’s time at Clemson:

New Falcons kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud shows impressive hops

WATCH: New Falcons kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud shows impressive hops in 100m hurdle video

The Atlanta Falcons moved on from Cordarrelle Patterson over the offseason, replacing him with another versatile weapon in former 49ers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud.

The 27-year-old has done a bit of everything in his career, from returning kicks to playing running back. Plus, McCloud is a truly elite athlete. If you don’t believe me, there’s video proof. The former Clemson standout posted a video of himself doing 100m hurdles on social media.

As you can see below, McCloud easily clears about 60 consecutive hurdles before he starts to slow down:

McCloud was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. After spending a year in Buffalo, McCloud played two seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the 49ers from 2022-2023.

Over 77 career games, McCloud has racked up 90 catches for 768 receiving yards and one touchdown. He has 15 career rushing attempts for 192 yards and a touchdown. McCloud is also an experienced kick and punt returner.

Since 2018, he has returned 138 punts for 1,326 yards, with another 2,438 yards gained on 108 career kick returns.

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Falcons WR Ray-Ray McCloud to wear jersey No. 14 this season

Falcons WR Ray-Ray McCloud will wear the No. 14 in Atlanta this season

With little depth behind Drake London, the Atlanta Falcons prioritized adding wide receiver depth in free agency. The team signed Darnell Mooney, who should serve as the No. 2 wideout, and traded for slot receiver Rondale Moore.

The Falcons also signed free-agent wide receiver/kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year contract. Cordarrelle Patterson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving McCloud to take over the team’s kick-return duties this season. The 27-year-old will wear uniform No. 14 in Atlanta.

The Falcons’ two other wide receiver acquisitions also received new jersey numbers. Rondale Moore will wear the No. 9 this season and Darnell Mooney will take over the No. 1.

Former Falcons QB Desmond Ridder wore the No. 9 last season while Jeff Okudah wore the No. 1. However, the two numbers were available after Ridder was traded to Arizona and Okudah signed with Houston in free agency.

Falcons announce deal with free-agent KR Ray-Ray McCloud

The Falcons have officially signed free-agent WR Ray-Ray McCloud to a 2-year contract

The Atlanta Falcons have a new return specialist, signing former 49ers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year deal, the team announced on Monday afternoon. McCloud’s contract is worth a reported $6 million over two seasons.

The 27-year-old was drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft and spent the last two years with the 49ers. McCloud returned both kicks and punts in San Francisco and figures to do the same in Atlanta this season.

McCloud’s signing likely explains why Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson said goodbye to fans in Atlanta last week. Patterson served as the team’s kick returner for the last few seasons but he has yet to be re-signed by the Falcons. 

 

Former Clemson wide receiver and star return man finds new home in the NFL

Ray-Ray McCloud has found a new home in the NFL.

A former Clemson wide receiver and star return man has found a new home in the NFL.

According to multiple reports, former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and return man Ray-Ray McCloud has signed a two-year deal up to $6 million with the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are bolstering their team with talent this offseason, and they landed one of the best returners in the NFL in McCloud.

McCloud’s NFL career began with the Buffalo Bills when he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the last two seasons with the 49ers while spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2020-21), the Carolina Panthers (2019), and, as mentioned, the Buffalo Bills (2019-20).

McCloud has had some work in the receiving game, recording 90 receptions for 768 yards and one receiving touchdown. He has also added a rushing touchdown. McCloud is a real threat in the return game, where he has returned 138 punts for 1,326 yards (9.6 yards per return) and 108 kickoff returns for 2,438 yards (22.6 yards per return).

Five Former Clemson Players Looking for Super Bowl Win

Five former Tigers look to earn Super Bowl rings today.

Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff over the years have recruited and developed some excellent players, with five looking to earn Super Bowl rings today.

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off tonight at 6:30 p.m., with the San Francisco 49ers looking to dethrone the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. It should be a fantastic game, as both teams are stacked with talent.

The five Tigers looking for rings are Cornell Powell and Justyn Ross for the Kansas City Chiefs and Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell, and Ray-Ray McCloud for the 49ers. McCloud has been the most impactful for his team this season, with 428 combined return yards and 12 catches for 135 yards.

Clelin Ferrell had 28 tackles with 3.5 sacks this season for the 49ers before injuries ended his season, while Austin Bryant didn’t get much run in the defensive line rotation. Former star wide receiver Justyn Ross had six catches for 53 yards this season.

Super Bowl 58: Bills connections on Chiefs, 49ers

Super Bowl 58: #Bills connections on #Chiefs, #49ers:

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will do battle in Super Bowl 58.

The Chiefs edged out the Buffalo Bills en route to the Big Game. As if you need any more reason to root against them, some former faces that played for Buffalo in the past are on the 49ers.

For those curious, here’s the list of Bills connections taking part in this year’s Super Bowl:

49ers roster moves: WR Ray-Ray McCloud activated off IR

Here are the 49ers recently-announced roster moves and what they mean for Week 18;

The 49ers on Saturday activated wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud off IR as part of a couple roster moves leading up to their Week 18 matchup against the Rams.They also downgraded WRs Danny Gray (shoulder) and Jauan Jennings (concussion) to out. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (illness) is now questionable.

McCloud has been on IR since Week 13 and had his practice window opened Wednesday. After a full week of practice he’s ready to suit up in San Francisco’s season finale. In a corresponding move the 49ers placed tight end Ross Dwelley on IR as he works through a high ankle sprain he suffered back in Week 13.

There should be plenty of opportunities on offense for McCloud in Sunday’s game with some starters likely to come out of the contest at some point. The bigger deal for the 49ers is getting their regular kick and punt returner back though. Rookie WR Ronnie Bell has had a couple shaky moments filling in for McCloud. Now McCloud will get a chance to get some game action under his belt before the postseason begins.

The 49ers also elevated safety Tayler Hawkins and running back Jeremy McNichols. Hawkins, a second-year undrafted player, should get some opportunities on defense alongside Logan Ryan with Ji’Ayir Brown and Tashaun Gipson already ruled out. Isaiah Oliver could also play safety in a pinch.

McNichols gives the 49ers depth on special teams, but he may also see time on offense with Christian McCaffrey out. It’s unclear how the 49ers plan to divvy up their backfield touches. It wouldn’t be a surprise if McNichols gets a couple carries late in Sunday’s game.

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49ers snap counts that stand out from Week 6 vs. Browns

A few things stood out from the #49ers Week 6 snap counts:

The 49ers snaps in their Week 6 loss to the Browns offered a couple of intriguing insights into where the team stands from a roster standpoint.

San Francisco’s snap counts were thrown a little out of whack in part because of injuries to running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, but those injuries also gave us a look at how the 49ers view their depth chart at a couple spots.

Let’s run through what stood out from the team’s official snap counts:

3 49ers to miss rest of preseason, but could return Week 1

The #49ers have 3 players out for the preseason, but there’s hope they’ll return for the regular season opener.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday in a conference call said the club has three players who will be out for the rest of the preseason.

Safety George Odum, wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud and linebacker Oren Burks are all due to miss the rest of camp and the remaining two preseason games.

Shanahan is hopeful all three could be back by the regular season opener, though he did say nothing has changed with the eight-week timeline the club gave for McCloud in the days leading up to the preseason opener. He had surgery on a broken wrist and could miss as many as eight weeks.

The head coach did acknowledge McCloud is worse off than Odum and Burks and isn’t likely to be back by Week 1.

Odum has a left shoulder issue, but he could be back practicing ahead of the second preseason game. Shanahan said he won’t be able to take any contact until the regular season begins.

Burks has a PCL sprain that he sustained on the collision that injured Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams on the first play of their scrimmage on Day 2 of joint practice.

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