With all the attention being put on the latest NFL draft projections, it may be hard to remember the individuals with big hopes and aspirations participating in the draft at the end of the month. All the focus on stats and analytics seems to negate the human face of the NFL draft.

Just when you began to grow tired of the most recent Mel Kiper or Todd McShay mock draft, perhaps the most intriguing human interest story of the year has emerged.

The story of this year’s NFL draft has become the journey of former Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, and the circumstances he came from to be on the cusp of a first round draft selection.

This is the second time in as many years that a defensive player from Missouri has stolen the NFL draft spotlight — Ray this year and Michael Sam year ago. Unlike Sam, though, Ray has a much higher upside and is more likely to make an immediate impact on whichever team drafts him.

If you have watched ESPN at all during the course of the last couple days, you have undoubtedly noticed promos for a SportsCenter profile about Shane Ray.

The feature details Ray’s youth growing up in an area of Kansas City colloquially known as the “murder factory.” His upbringing was fraught with threats of gang violence, persistent poverty and a fatherless home. The over-arching theme of the profile is how he overcame these societal challenges to become one of the top players in college football’s best conference and now a likely first-round draft choice.

In many ways, Ray’s story is similar to many athletes that overcome similar challenges en route to the top of their sport. Derrick Rose is well-known for overcoming gang violence and poverty in Chicago’s South Side on his way to the NBA.

While the NFL headlines are dominated by allegations of domestic violence, promising players retiring early due to the risk of eventual head trauma, NCAA infractions and the domineering corporate influence on college sports, the story of Shane Ray is a refreshing counterpoint.

Also, with early gossip of the NFL draft focused incessantly on the quarterback draft duel between Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston and, of course, Winston’s slew of potential character issues, Ray makes for a reprieve from all of the negativity and cynicism that unfortunately plagues college football and the NFL.

What makes his story and character so much more endearing is the fact that Ray — judging from all the scouting reports — is an impact defensive player with the prospect of being an instant improvement to whatever defense can employ his pass rushing skills.

In his elite 2014 campaign at Mizzou, Ray continually wreaked havoc in the backfield against some of the top offensive lineman in the SEC. He recorded 14.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in his season as an All-American and a finalist for a variety of defensive awards.

Obviously, he will have to adjust to the bigger and stronger offensive linemen he will be matched up against in the NFL, but he clearly has the pass rushing ability to succeed on Sundays. According to a scouting report on NFL.com, Ray is explosive off the line and rushes the passer with a great deal of purpose. He also has exceptional hands, and is thus able to fend off offensive lineman to attack the quarterback. Clearly, he has the skills to help a variety of teams looking for defensive talent at the top of the draft.

Combine those physical attributes with a strong work ethic and the circumstances he has overcome, and Ray is perhaps the best defensive player in the draft.

Athletes like Ray and the story of his circumstances that allowed him to rise from a background of urban poverty to the cusp of an NFL career are indeed the stories that should be given more attention if the NFL and college football want to remind fans that negativity and cynicism is not the default setting in the modern college and professional football landscape.

Ray ought to be the main headline on draft night — he represents the authentic human face of a league that desperately needs more positive role models for society.

For that reason, the fans in Chicago on April 30 have an obligation to give Ray a standing ovation — even if they are seething that their team made the wrong pick.

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@danescalona77