Hoosiers turn to ‘Big Play Ray’

Ray Fisher’s time has come. \nIn high school, the wide receiver played with current NFL player and former Ohio State star Ted Ginn Jr. In his first two years as a Hoosier, he played alongside IU record-holder James Hardy.\nBut no longer is the sophomore overshadowed by his wide receiver teammates. With spring practice in full swing and Ginn and Hardy no longer wearing the same jersey as him, Fisher is now the one who’s had the most success on the field.\nFisher finished second on the team in receptions with 52 in 2007, to go along with four touchdown grabs. With Hardy entering the NFL Draft, James Bailey’s transfer and sophomore Andrew Means in the midst of a baseball season, Fisher is the most seasoned Hoosier receiver during spring practices.\nFor the time being, Fisher is no longer second fiddle – he’s the receiver that people expect to make a play.\nFisher said because of his experience, and the absence of other experienced wide receivers, he needs to become one of the leaders on \nthe team.\n“I’ve got to, I’ve been here three years,” Fisher said. “I have to go out every day hard. If I do, I think everyone else will come out to \nget better.” \nListed at a generous 5-foot-9, Fisher’s productivity comes out of the slot position, as opposed to Hardy’s ability to out leap defenders to the ball. \nBut IU wide receivers coach Billy Lynch said the coaching staff has a couple of plans to find ways to get Fisher the ball other than a bubble screen – a play run often for Fisher last season. Lynch said it is important to find ways to get Fisher the ball \nbecause of what he can do once it’s in his hands. \n“Ray’s been a playmaker since the day he got here,” Lynch said.\nOne of the ways the staff will try to utilize Fisher is by making him the new punt returner, replacing outgoing cornerback Tracy Porter. Lynch said even though Fisher has not been the featured punt returner before, it’s something he has a “knack for.”\n“He could have stepped in and played it last year,” Lynch said. “We were just fortunate to have another special player like Porter to be returning punts.”\nFisher said he has been able to learn tips from Porter, Ginn Jr. and the coaching staff on what the best approach is for returning punts.\nWhile Lynch said the biggest strength for Fisher is that he consistently catches the punts, Fisher offered a different take on how he plans to become a successful \nreturn man. \n“Be patient,” Fisher said. “Know where the gunner is, and as soon as you see the hole, shoot through it.” \nOnce fall practices start and the season officially begins, the outlook of the IU receiving corps will look much different than it does this spring. Five incoming freshmen are all expected to join, and it is likely Means will be back for another season if he is not drafted in Major League Baseball Draft. \nBut for the time being, the smallest wide receiver on the team has the biggest role – a role that sophomore Bryan Payton said Fisher has done a good job of fulfilling so far. \n“Ray’s always been a vocal guy,” Payton said. “He makes it fun out here.”