Pray excelling on and off the field for C.R. Titans

CEDAR RAPIDS – At 5-foot-7, Bryan Pray of the Cedar Rapids Titans is listed as the shortest receiver in the Indoor Football League.

But what Pray lacks in size, he more than makes up for with production and leadership.

The third-year receiver has two touchdowns in each of the first three games for Cedar Rapids (2-1). He'll try to make it four in a row when the Titans host Tri-Cities (1-1) Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'I think I have six touchdowns, four of them are in the red zone,” Pray said. 'Normally, that's for big receivers. My size helps me because I can wiggle through the holes and get lost behind coverages.”

Despite having a different quarterback under center in each of his three seasons with the Titans, Pray has been remarkably consistent. With 173 yards and six touchdowns through three games, he's on pace to challenge his career highs from 2013 (942 yards and 19 TDs).

'At this level, there's so much turnover,” Pray said. 'On some teams, it's almost every other week. So what you do, you have to mentally prepare. You have to go and watch film with them, let them know your breaks, (and) get the extra work after practice.”

First-year Cedar Rapids quarterback Sam Durley has been the primary beneficiary of an experienced receiver corps that includes Pray, Carl Sims and Willie Carter. Durley leads the IFL with 10 touchdown passes.

'He has an understanding of the game,” Pray said of Durley. 'And he's young, he still wants to learn…He's all ears. He absorbs everything. He's having fun.”

Pray is a valuable contributor off the field for the Titans as well. As a leader in the club's community outreach program, Pray is tasked with visiting area schools to speak to kids about the value of a good education. Pray and linebacker Nick Haag were at Grant Elementary on Tuesday.

'We just talk to the kids,” Pray said. 'We just let them know about the education. Some of those kids, they look up to us as football players…but we let them know that we haven't got to our level without the education. Listen to your teachers, do your homework, study and take everything in. Learn everything that you can possibly learn. That way, you can get to where you want to be in life.”

Friday will be a quick turnaround for Cedar Rapids after its 45-38 double-overtime win at Billings on Sunday. The team was off on Tuesday, then practiced without pads on Wednesday and Thursday.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com