ESPN caught up with former Fort Lewis College football player Arthur Ray Jr. on Aug. 1.

The 25-year-old cancer survivor worked hard for a chance in the National Football League after his senior season at FLC, where he transferred after a stint at Michigan State. He signed with the Spartans weeks before being diagnosed with bone cancer as a highly recruited high school senior.

Ray earned a pre-draft workout with the Miami Dolphins, where 1982 Durango High School graduate John Benton is the offensive line coach.

“It was fun being an NFL player for a couple days at least,” Ray told ESPN.

Ray didn’t receive an invite to training camp and returned to Chicago.

“I’ve been waiting for a call and setting things up just in case a call doesn’t come,” Ray told ESPN.

As for Plan B?

“I’d like to work in athletics or in personnel with the NFL or at the college level,” he said. “I studied sports management at Fort Lewis, and it was pretty much a two-year internship with the athletics department.”

Herald Staff