Ray Wilborn

BIOGRAPHY

Rayshawn Kyli Wilborn, an illustrious name in the realm of professional football, has emerged as a successful linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a prominent team in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Born on April 1, 1997, in the industrious city of Lansing, Michigan, Wilborn’s journey into the world of football started at an early age. A gifted athlete, he attended J. W. Sexton High School where he demonstrated a remarkable knack for the sport. Not only did he earn four coveted varsity letters, but he was also named the first-team all-state twice, testament to his exceptional skills. As a two-time captain, his leadership qualities were apparent just as his knack for setting records, notably a junior year feat, which saw him set a school record for single-season sacks with 18. Wilborn was unafraid of straddling roles, playing on the offense during his senior year. His impressive stats, including 14 touchdown passes and a total of 970 receiving yards, spoke highly of his abilities.

In 2016, Wilborn started his college football career at Garden City Community College, where he was instrumental in leading the team to a national championship. His two-season stint was characterized by impressive figures; 120 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 23 TFLs, all accomplished in his appearance in 23 games.

From there, Wilborn transferred to Ball State in 2018, joining the school in January. Displaying his singular tackling ability, he started all 12 games as an outside linebacker and led his team in both TFLs (10.5) and tackles (83). Characteristic highlights included his first career interception against Notre Dame and another against NIU, rounding off to a magnificent total of 43 yards.

Exemplifying versatility, Wilborn switched from the position of a linebacker to safety in 2019 upon the team’s requirement of a player in the latter role. Proving adept at his new position, he once again started all 12 games and delivered a robust performance with 83 tackles, the third-highest on the team. Additionally, he showed a knack for interceptions, skilfully pulling off two against NC State and Eastern Michigan, and tying for the fourth spot on Ball State with an impressive six pass breakups.

Despite projections hinting at his selection as a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Wilborn was ultimately not chosen. Undeterred by this turn of events, he was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. However, he was left off in the final roster cuts.

Wilborn’s career took a new turn in October when he was signed to the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he was released in November, he surfaced again in January 2021 after the Green Bay Packers signed him to a future contract. He was twice transferred to the reserve/COVID-19 list, once in July and again in December. He was eventually released by the Packers in 2022 and moved to the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos took in Wilborn in November 2022, signing him to their practice squad. He was later promoted to the active roster for the Broncos’ Week 17 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, marking his NFL debut. Despite the team’s loss, Wilborn caught attention with his 14 special teams snaps. However, he was waived in August 2023.

Shortly after, Wilborn was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants. Despite a brief waiver just two weeks later, his journey continued when he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on February 28, 2024.

Embodying resilience, agility, and sheer talent, Rayshawn Wilborn’s journey serves as an exemplar of relentless pursuit in the world of professional football.