Ray Lewis' son 'Ray Ray' making a name for himself in Florida high school football

LAKE MARY — Jacob Doss, the head football coach at Windermere Preparatory School, had heard all about the rising star over at rival Lake Mary Prep.

Still, Doss couldn't help but be just a little skeptical. Sure, "Little Ray" Lewis is the son of All-Pro Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. But he's only 15 years old, a sophomore with minimal prep football experience.

It took about two hours in a pre-season game Sept. 10 to make a believer out of Doss.

Lewis, a running back, gained 504 yards to lead Lake Mary's 34-7 win - including 206 yards and two touchdowns on punt returns, 101 yards in kick-off returns, 104 yards rushing and 68 yards passing.

"He lit us up,' Doss said. "There's definitely something special about him. As soon as he steps on the field and as soon as he touches the ball, you can tell the special football gene is definitely in his body.'

"Ray-Ray," as his Lake Mary teammates know him, grew up around professional football, hanging out in the Ravens locker room with his dad, a nine-time All Pro linebacker who led Baltimore to the Super Bowl in 2000.

Now, as he embarks on his own football career, he's using his dad as motivation.

"My goal is to be better than my dad,' the 5-foot-9, 186-pounder said with a smile after practice earlier this week. "It's not an easy task, but I have an extra step because of who my dad is. He's a great football player so that's the extra step I have.'

For now, Ray-Ray is making his mark on the Florida prep level. Entering Friday, Lewis was among the leaders in Division 1B with 1,141 rushing yards, 96 points and 16 touchdowns.

Last Friday, his father took advantage of the Ravens' bye week. He flew down from Baltimore to help pack the stands at Lake Mary, which is just north of Orlando, and watched Little Ray score two touchdowns and rush for 272 yards in a 37-21 win over Mount Dora Bible.

"He just likes the ball in his hands,' Big Ray Lewis told a Baltimore radio station two years ago after his son was mentioned in Sports Illustrated item.

"For a father that's the greatest reward you can ever have - to teach your children something and then see it done. ... When I saw the Sports Illustrated, the tears for me were easy when you're blessed to have a child that's truly coming up in your footsteps.'

The Lake Mary Prep Griffins are 5-3, the best start so far in the private school's young football program history. Head coach Buck Gurley said Lewis' dad - "Big Ray,' as he is known around Lake Mary Prep - deserves credit.

Earlier this summer, Big Ray made it known that he planned to work out with his son's team during a day of voluntary pre-season drills.

"Big Ray, he's a motivator. We had 22 kids show up. That never happened before,' said Gurley, a defensive tackle on the Florida Gators' 2000 SEC title team and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2002 Super Bowl team.

"I remember watching him work out with them and I was like, "Man, this may be a team. We may have a pretty good team.'

"Big Ray" watches a DVD of his son's game every week so he can offer a personal critique, said Gurley.

Little Ray laughs about the perceptions outsiders may have about life at home with Ray Lewis, one of the most intimidating linebackers in the NFL.

"I've got to take the garbage out, keep my room clean, but he's not that super strict,' he said.

Ray-Ray, who looks like his dad, is a well-liked student who doesn't act like a budding star around school.

"What impresses me most is his leadership,' said Dr. Spencer Taintor, Lake Mary's headmaster, who attended the University of Miami the same time that Ray Lewis starred with the Hurricanes.

"With his dad being in the NFL and press he gets, it really has not gotten to him. He's still a humble kid and leader on the field and making sure it's team effort. He's not out there trying to be superstar.'

The younger Lewis isn't worried about lofty expectations that come with being the son of an NFL star.

"Me and my dad, we always talk about that. I don't let that get to me,' he said. "I just go out there and play my game and at the end of the day he's my dad.'

Before every game, Little Ray puts on his uniform then checks his cell phone for a pre-game text from his dad. It usually reads: "Let's go, son! Stay right back at it!'

After Friday's game, Little Ray and his family will fly to Baltimore to watch his dad's game Sunday against the Dolphins.

Little Ray isn't the only rising star in the Lewis family. Lake Mary athletics coaches have their eyes on his two younger brothers - Rayshad (12) and Rashaan (10).

For now, Little Ray is enough for opposing coaches to worry about.

"He doesn't look like a sophomore. He's a good football player and a very smart football player, too,' said Windermere Prep's Doss. "Unfortunately, we will have to play him for the next two years.'

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(palmbeachpost.com)