Missourians are all too familiar with impact defensive linemen — they have had several come through Columbia, Mo.

Since 2000, the Missouri Tigers have developed six first-team all-conference linemen, 10 NFL draft picks, including three-first round selections.

Last season, Kony Ealy and Michael Sam formed a dynamic duo off the edges for the Tigers. Sam won SEC Defensive Player of the Year and both were selected in next year’s draft in the second and seventh rounds, respectively.

But with those two gone, the question arose of who would replace the production in 2014.

Coming into the season, senior Markus Golden received a majority of the hype from media members as to who would become the next Ealy or Sam for Missouri. He led the Tigers with 55 tackles, despite playing just 40 percent of the snaps last year. Redshirt junior Shane Ray, who also performed well as a reserve last season, was looked at as a player with a lot of potential, but no one could anticipate how he would handle his new role in 2014 as a starter.

But it’s been Ray, not Golden, who’s become the next great defensive star for Missouri and the numbers say it all.

Ray currently leads the SEC with 8.5 sacks and an incredible 14 tackles for loss, 3.5 more than the next closest player. His speed is second-to-none off the edge and he’s constantly blowing by ultra-talented offensive linemen thanks to his quick burst off the line and his athleticism. He’s been awarded conference defensive honors three times this season and has taken over several important games with his disruptive presence in the backfield.

Not to mention, he’s just three sacks away from tying former Missouri great and first-round pick Aldon Smith, who set the school record of 11.5 sacks in one season.

“He was a train-wrecker kind of player,” defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski said. “You watch him play in high school, it’s like, ‘Man, this guy plays really hard. This guy plays with reckless abandon.’ That’s how he plays. He’s got unshakeable confidence.”

What’s most interesting about Ray is how he’s shot up numerous draft boards of NFL scouts, thanks to his huge breakout season.

Originally tabbed as a probable second or third round pick, Ray’s size was supposed to hinder his potential in the NFL. At 6-foot-3, 245-pounds, everyone knew Ray had the speed off the edge to be productive. However, with a “tweener” body frame, it’s tough to project how a player like Ray would transition to the NFL.

But Ray’s consistent playmaking ability this season from the defensive end position has several NFL scouts and media personnel taking notice, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr, who ranked Ray in the top 10 of his latest 2015 NFL Draft board.

System fit will be a discussion, but what he can do is play with tremendous energy, beat blockers and get to the passer, so it’s going to work out. What I like about Ray is he combines a relentless effort level with a range of pass-rushing moves. He’s not just a speed rusher off the edge, he’ll get on the inside shoulder of a tackle and drive through, creating pressure from the inside. Super productive and disruptive so far.

Ray’s size will always be a talking point until he’s drafted and is able to prove his worth on Sundays. Some scouts may wonder if he’s too light to produce in the NFL or if he’ll stay just as fast with more weight added on. Either way, as long as he keeps making big plays for the Tigers, his undersized frame won’t mean much and his stock should continue to go up.

The scary thought is, however, that Missouri may just have its best defensive lineman yet in No. 56. As a redshirt junior, he’ll have another year if he wants to stay, but if he keeps taking over games like he has, the decision to become a probable top 10 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft may not be so hard to make.

“He’s pretty damn good,” said one NFL scout to Sports Illustrated’s The Inside Read. “He’s real sudden and not real long, but he makes a ton of plays for them. He’s got the goods.”