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Shane Ray: From The 'Murder Factory' To Budding Star On The Broncos

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CBS4) - Thursday night's game was a homecoming for one of the newest members of the Denver Broncos' defense. CBS4's Karen Leigh got the chance to sit down with first round draft pick Shane Ray, who was born and raised in Kansas City.

Ray, 22, comes from a tough Kansas City neighborhood nicknamed the Murder Factory with only a single mother to rely on.

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Shane Ray with his mother, Sebrina Johnson (credit: CBS)

"It took a big support system to make it, to be kind of that kid to make it out of that," Ray said. "She's the key, my mom is the key to everything."

Ray's mother Sebrina Johnson is his biggest cheerleader, keeping him out of trouble and showing him there's more to life than his immediate surroundings.

"My mom always told me to speak things into existence," Ray said.

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Shane Ray's mother, Sebrina Johnson (credit: CBS)

Johnson worked two jobs to help Ray escape his environment and enrolled him at the prestigious Bishop Miege High School where he met Coach Tim Grunhard.

"He treated us like we were his sons and he really, really stayed on us," Ray said.

Ironically, Grunhard was a Kansas City Chief, just another reason why he played such an important role in Ray's life. Ray admits he is, and will always be, a Chiefs fan.

"Oh definitely, definitely … at heart I'm a diehard Chiefs fan, and it's tough," he said.

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Gary Kubiak, Shane Ray and John Elway (credit: CBS)

After starring at Missouri in college, Ray quickly became a top NFL prospect. But a marijuana citation right before the draft forced the Chiefs and 22 other teams to pass him up -- but not the Broncos.

"I feel like things happen for a reason, you know. I think it was another test for me to show my perseverance and get through things when things get rough," Ray said. "But I made it through and now I'm with a great football team and a group of guys who really care about me."

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Shane Ray talk with CBS4's Karen Leigh (credit: CBS)

Ray's father, who was largely absent in his childhood, was also a star football player for Missouri and an NFL draft pick. Ray went to Missouri with the goal of wiping his father out of the record books -- a goal he is proud to have achieved.

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