27 years later, Ray Mickens will be receiving his Aggie Ring this fall

The former All-American and all-time great A&M defensive back Ray Mickens was drafted in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft to the New York Jets and never got the chance to order his Aggie gold. 27 years later, Mickens will be receiving his Aggie Ring this fall.

Key notes from Ray Mickens interview

• I graduated in ‘96 in business accounting. I had my last semester and was supposed to order my ring in January. I did not take any money, so I was relying on my Pell Grant. During my last semester here, they took out the money from all my parking tickets over the years. So, I was not able to order my ring. I was able to get back in town and was able to order my ring. They helped me out, and there was no wait. 
   
• Everywhere I go, I see Aggies. They always ask where my ring is, and I have to tell them the story. I kept telling myself that I had to get my ring.
   
• I am a military kid. I was born in Germany, and my dad got stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas. I was an all-state running back, but I wanted to play defense. Most of my offers were at running back. Texas was the only team that came and recruited me at defensive back. I was about to commit to Texas, but they wouldn’t let me take visits if I committed. Out of the blue, I got a call from A&M and went on a visit. I didn’t know much about A&M except from a friend. The defense was the ‘Wrecking Crew.’ My host said we are going to have the best defense in the country next year. R.C. Slocum brings me into his office on Sunday. I was waiting for an offer and wanted to come here. I left disappointed when I didn’t get an offer. I was going to go to visit ASU and then Oklahoma, but he called me that week before I went. He asked if I wanted to be an Aggie. I said, ‘Yes sir,’ and then did not take my other visits. That next week, Bob Boyd from Texas came to my school. He asked me to reconsider, and I said, ‘Thanks but no thanks.’
   
• I can’t wait for the Texas rivalry to be back. I think there is a lot of bad blood, especially from recruitment. Unfortunately, this generation wasn’t able to experience the Thanksgiving night games. It is going to mean a whole lot to us because we lived through it. All we can do is share our experiences with them. I think they will get it really quick once they see the former member base there. 
   
• Kyle Field and the 12th Man was one of our biggest advantages. When we came out of the tunnel, you couldn’t hear the man next to you. We did not have many calls on defense, we couldn’t hear each other. We just went out there and played ball and played as hard as we could.
   
• There were a lot of great players already here, like Derrick Frazier and Kevin Smith. I wanted to be here and learn from them. The first thing kids look at now is the depth chart. They want to play as freshmen. Not that I need to develop, and these players will help me do that. The guys around me are what helped me. The mentality of Patrick Bates and Quentin Coryatt helped me, and my roommate Sam Adams. I got to give credit, and it is a little different now, and kids are more developed these days with 7-on-7 and Hudl.
   
• Aaron Glenn is my guy. I am super excited for him. A lot of people don’t see the grind. When he has to drive from Texas up to some small town in Iowa as a scout. He did all this to hopefully be a head coach one day. He has always been a smart guy. When playing with Belichick, a lot of guys could not grasp it mentally, but he could do it both mentally and physically.
   
• My oldest daughter played college basketball at Boston College and then transferred to SMU. She really wanted to come here, but they had such a loaded team. My 21-year-old son, R.J. Mickens is at Clemson and is a safety there, but I was hoping he would come here. But he has been doing great. He was third in the ACC last year in interceptions. ACC games aren’t the same as SEC games. My son Preston will be a senior at Southlake Carroll this year, and I am hoping he comes here as a student. My youngest is 13, and I think she is the best athlete. She plays for FC Dallas right now. Once she gets into high school, I hope to bring her to some camps up here.