Sierra Canyon 2017 OL/DL Kanan Ray Talks NSD and Flurry of D-I Offers

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

If you had the chance to watch Sierra Canyon play in 2014, you might have noticed this 6’4”, 260 pound, two-way lineman hustling and getting after it play after play. Without looking at the program or asking someone around you in the know, the initial thought might have been, only if this guy was a little bit bigger. Well that “skinny” sophomore, who could have passed for a senior, has shed the “what if” label as an overachiever becoming a budding monster.

The Trailblazers had a really nice season in 2014 going 11-2 with a lot of underclassmen playing key roles. In 2015, much was the same with underclassmen tearing it up but the results were almost storybook going 14-1 falling just short of a perfect season losing a 36-35 heartbreaker to San Marino in the championship game.

The good news for head coach Jon Ellinghouse and Chatsworth, California, area fans, much of the nucleus that drove the team to near perfection will be back again in 2016. Niko Harris and his 3,260 passing yards with 47 touchdowns against just six picks, running back Bobby Cole and his 2,468 yards with 29 scores, and the now 6’4”, 275 two-way beast in the trenches, Kanan Ray.

Who knows how many pancake blocks Ray came up with during his junior campaign, but his production on defense was there with 32 tackles, at least two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery playing in all 15 games. The stats may not be overwhelming but that is because the Trailblazers were. Even though the stat lines for Harris and Cole were video game-ish, most of the starters, including Harris and Cole, played limited minutes only getting in games for the first half due to lopsided scores, possibly a series or two in the third if lucky.

The stinted playing time may have hurt Ray, wanting to be on the field for every snap, but the lost time did not hurt his standing or evaluation with college coaches. Interests from top teams have been there but now, as eloquently brought forth by the Chamber Brothers, “Time Has Come Today.” Top 2017 recruits are seeing the attention switched onto them with the 2016 class signing on Wednesday and Ray is raking in the offers. Washington State offered first, but Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado State offered just before NSD and UCLA took time out of their busy day landing recruits and organizing faxed LOIs to offer Ray as well. Two days later, San Jose State got into the mix putting down their offer.

With all of the early offers coming in, safe to assume more are just around the corner. With NSD being such a big event for high school football players, coaches, and their respective fan bases, I caught up with Ray just after Wednesday’s festivities to get his thoughts on the day along with a recruiting update.

Interview

Kanan, there was a lot going on throughout the day on Wednesday. Was there anything or any teams that caught your eye with the classes they signed?

“The classes that USC and UCLA signed, both had great classes. Alabama always has a great class signed. I was impressed with what the two local team did, UCLA and USC both did really well.”

You are just one year out from your big day. From a recruit’s perspective what were some of the things that stood out to you?

“It was cool seeing my teammates sign. I watched those guys work hard in the classroom and on the field. It was cool seeing my friends get what they’ve been working for all this time. I love seeing those guys get what they wanted.”

Any players making last minute commitments on a national level that was interesting to you or surprised you?

“Maybe (wide receiver) Keyshawn Jones from Miami, Florida. I went to B2G Elite with him. He committed to USC, thought he’d go to Michigan or Miami.”

Alright Kanan, you’re 6-foot 4-inches and weigh what now?

“275.”

The last time you maxed out on bench and squat what did you get?

“I pressed 290 and squatted 435.”

Alright, you’re heading towards beast mode. How are the offseason workouts going?

“I’ve been doing our school workouts and I’ve been going to a local gym. I was working out with Proactive, I might get back into that here soon. Right now I’m just doing our school workouts and going to the gym. I’ve been going to a speed camp every Saturday, I’m trying to get my 40 time down to 5.1.”

You’ve been getting a lot of offers lately, walk me through the offers you’ve received.

“Washington State offered during the first round of the playoffs. Then everything kind of went dead for a while but I was hearing from schools here and there. Then, we were at the Lakers game and one of the Arizona State coaches reached out to me. He asked me to call him. So I did and they offered me a scholarship.

“It looked like I had three in one day, but that was from the night before. The next morning, around 7:00 a.m., Colorado State offered and around lunch time Arizona offered. Then on National Signing Day, UCLA offensive line coach, Coach (Adrian) Klemm asked me to call him. He offered me then. That had me going. I ran across school telling everyone I was offered by UCLA. That was great.”

*San Jose State offered after our interview.

Do you have any unofficial visits lined up?

“Yeah I do. I’m going to UCLA soon. I plan on going to Arizona State, they just offered. I want to checkout Arizona again, they also just offered. I want to go up to Washington State, Washington, Oregon State, and Oregon too. I want to visit every school that has offered.”

Do you have an idea of when you would like your recruiting process to be over?

“I plan on committing after the spring but before the season. I want to get my commitment out of the way to focus on my senior year.”

Do you have any plans to attend different camps?

“I may attend some camps here and there, but no more college camps. I have my offers. I might go to the Opening regional, maybe Rivals, and B2G elite again. This will not be too big of a camp season for me.”

Has the realization of the recruiting process started to really sink in with NSD 2016 just ending and all of these offers coming through for you?

“Yeah, I was thinking about that the other day after getting those three offers. Crazy that within a year it will be me signing my letter of intent.”

How does all of this make you feel?

“I feel blessed and I’m excited. When we were first talking, no one knew about me. After our first interview I started getting looks. I appreciate your help. It really is a blessing that in a year from now I will be signing.”

I appreciate the kind words but hesitate to put it into the interview as it may seem self-serving.

“Why. I said it you didn’t and I meant it.”

Well, I don’t know what else to say but thank you. I have a strong feeling all of this was just a matter of time. We may have pushed the timeline forward a little bit. Alright, back to you. How is everything going in the classroom?

“Everything is going well in the classroom.”

Are you taking your ACT coming up?

“I just took my practice ACT. I should be getting my results back soon and then I start taking the preparation classes. I’m just getting started with those classes.”

Kanan, good luck with the ACT and your upcoming trips. Thanks for the kind words.

“Thank you and you’re welcome.”

Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Kanan Ray interview at Sierra Canyon.

Photo credit: Ray family; Kanan Ray (left) and Kylan “Meaty” Wilborn (Notre Dame HS) at UCLA.

Photo credit: Ray family; Kanan Ray (left) with Sierra Canyon teammates at USC.