Iowa State’s old-school run-stuffing anchor
In the 2019 season, Ray Lima was the kind of defensive tackle coaches love: a sturdy interior presence, two-time team captain, and three-time All-Big 12 performer who helped stabilize Iowa State’s defensive front. He finished his Cyclone career with 87 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss, and evaluators consistently described him as an old-school nose tackle who wins with leverage, toughness, and gap control rather than flash. He also carried a strong academic/community-service reputation, which makes him a fit for teams wanting a dependable, high-character interior defender.
