Rayuan Lane’s parents, William and Felecia Lane, supported his football journey from Gilman School to the NFL. They raised him in a close-knit family alongside his elder sister and younger brother.
His parents are proud of his accomplishments, and the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the sixth round with the 200th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Rayuan Lane is the fourth Navy football player to be drafted in the last 11 years and the first defensive player to be drafted since Bob Kuberski was selected in 1993.
After graduating from the Gilman School, he committed to play college football for the Navy Midshipmen.
His burgeoning talent, excellent football instincts, high-level speed, athleticism, and versatility made him a standout athlete in the Navy.
He helped lead the Navy to a memorable season in 2024 and won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy with dominating performances over Air Force and Army.
He finished his career with 244 tackles, and the Navy coaching staff believed Lane was the best gunner on the punt team in the FBS.
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him in 2025, and he’ll be able to play immediately as Section 557 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.
I’m excited and thankful that the Jacksonville Jaguars believed in me as a person and football player to give me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I want to thank my family, my teammates and coaches at both the Gilman School and the Naval Academy and everybody else who has helped me through this journey. I am excited for the opportunity to be both a Jacksonville Jaguar and a Marine Corps Officer.
Rayuan Lane
Rayuan Lane’s Parents’ Supportive Foundation Behind The NFL Star
Rayuan Lane III, the son of William and Felecia Lane, was born on July 21, 2003, in Jessup, Maryland. He shares a close bond with his two siblings.
His parents’ unwavering support, competitive spirit, and strong values have shaped the NFL star into the leader he is today, both on and off the field.
Felecia Lane, a Kent State graduate and former collegiate softball player, understands the dedication required to excel in sports.
Her athletic background instilled discipline and perseverance in her children, which Rayuan has carried with him since he first fell in love with football at the age of five.
His initial participation in Pee-Wee leagues in Ohio indicated a potential career in the sport.
Later, his parents moved to Baltimore, where the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII victory and its celebratory parade deepened his gridiron obsession.
Rayuan naturally emerged as a leader in the Lane household, even though he was a middle child. His mother describes him as another father figure.
Meanwhile, William Lane reflects on his son’s journey with pride, recalling the resilience Rayuan showed through challenges.
I really can’t put it into words. It’s been a roller coaster. I’ve seen him come through tough times. He’s been loyal and stuck to the process and gained confidence in himself. He truly is what he says he is. Character comes first.
William Lane
Furthermore, the Lane family thrives on competition, whether in backyard football games or rap battles.
They believe that what is meant for you is intended for you, and this mindset guided Rayuan’s decision to attend the Naval Academy.
Rayuan’s older sister’s Navy Reserve service further inspired his path, while his younger brother, DeJuan, followed his football dreams as a freshman safety at Penn State.
The Lanes have split their time between Navy and Penn State games, ensuring both sons feel their support.
Rayuan Lane’s Parents Supported His Journey To The Navy
When the United States Naval Academy offered Rayuan Lane a scholarship, his mother, Felecia, knew her son was destined to become a Midshipman.
The Lane family understood the challenges ahead, not just the rigorous demands of military service, but also the uncertain path of pursuing an NFL career from a service academy.
As Rayuan’s parents dropped him off for his plebe year, their message was clear: Put in the time. Dedicate yourself. Give it your all.
Rayuan embraced the challenge, fully expecting to commit to the Navy’s 2-for-7 service obligation, graduating from the Academy and serving at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps.
Yet, as a standout football player, he also wanted to explore his options, entering the NCAA transfer portal in 2023.
The move sparked significant interest, with Power Five programs like UCLA, Notre Dame, and Ole Miss extending scholarships and NIL offers. NFL scouts took notice, recognizing him as one of the Navy’s top talents.
But despite the allure of big-name schools and potential professional opportunities, Rayuan never seriously considered leaving Annapolis.
His mission at the Academy and the life of service awaiting him after graduation in 2025 meant too much to walk away.
Rayuan just wanted to explore, see what was out there. I think [the portal] was mostly a curiosity to him. At one point he asked me, ‘If they’re asking me to leave a great place to go to another great place, what am I gaining?
Felecia Lane
Felecia Lane wasn’t surprised by her son’s determination. Rayuan had always been driven from an early age.
He was walking before his first birthday and riding a two-wheel bike without training wheels by age three. He wasn’t one to sit idle and thrived outdoors, whether playing in the mud, racing dirt bikes, or popping wheelies.
In his junior year, that’s when Rayuan really got in tune with football, in terms of watching lots of film and learning the game more. He was really looking forward to his senior year. We planned to take him to a bunch of [college recruitment] camps. He didn’t show a lot of frustration, but I know it was hard on him.
William Lane
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Rayuan Lane was a three-sport athlete who earned letters in basketball, football, and track & field.
- He was named First-Team All-American Athletic Conference in 2024, and College Football Network named him a First-Team All-American on special teams.
- He started the final 43 games of his college career, the longest streak in the FBS by a safety and the second longest by any player in the secondary.
- He majored in quantitative economics.
