Chris Rainey - Making His Mark
Monday, October 31, 2011 | Football
By Marla Glasser, UF Communications
Redshirt senior Chris Rainey is making his final season wearing the Orange and Blue count. The running back has already tallied 526 rushing, 305 receiving and 178 return yards in eight starts for the Gators, scoring five touchdowns in three different ways.
The versatile speed demon is one of just two players in the nation to lead his team in both rushing and receiving yards. One of the program's top running backs, he is on track to finish his career in the Florida record books, finding his name listed among the career leaders in both rushing and all-purpose yards.
A native of Lakeland, Fla., Rainey has had to overcome many obstacles before, and during his career at the University of Florida. As he sees his time as a Gator winding down, he is determined to make his mark at The Swamp. He opened the 2011 season on a high note, scoring a 14-yard rushing touchdown, a 14-yard receiving touchdown and returning a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown in the season-opening win over FAU in Will Muschamp's head coaching debut. Rainey's three-pronged performance marked the first time in program history that a Gator had scored three different ways in the same game.
On the heels of a spectacular start to the campaign, Rainey notched three-straight 100-yard rushing performances, as the Gators cruised past UAB, Tennessee and Kentucky.
In Florida's Southeastern Conference lid-lifter against the Vols, his versatility was highlighted once again, as he recorded 108 rushing yards and 104 receiving yards. The effort enabled him to become one of just four players in the nation this season and only the second Gator to surpass the century mark in both categories in the same game. His performance against Tennessee included a career-best 83-yard touchdown reception from redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley, which helped solidify the Gators' lead, 30-7, in the third quarter. The catch was the longest at Florida Field since 1995 and the longest touchdown reception for a Florida running back. Rainey was later named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding effort.
“I don't know if there is a more versatile player,” Muschamp said of Rainey. “He comes to work every day. Playing for Florida is very important to him, and that's important for me. He's a guy that is an example of what you want as a player and competitor.”
While the October slate has proven tough on Rainey and the Gators, the 'never-say-die' team continues to push through. Against top-ranked LSU, he came through with a 25-yard rush in the first quarter, the longest rush that the Tigers had allowed all season.
Rainey attributes much of his success to his energetic, positive nature.
“I always have a smile on my face, I have a good personality. I'm always happy, always positive. If I'm down, people are down, if I'm up, everybody's up.”
His magnetic personality is contagious, helping to keep team morale up at practice even through tough times.
"In practice, he has a lot of juice, a lot of energy,” Gator redshirt sophomore guard Jon Halapio said, “He just brings everybody up. Having him out there, doing what he does, helps us have fun. He's a real joyful guy out there on the field. Chris loves to come to work every day."
Rainey's energy at practice comes from his undying passion for the sport of football, a love that is evident to anyone who sees him play.
“When you walk out there, you can see certain guys every day that you see football is really important to them,” Muschamp noted. “Football is really important to Chris Rainey. You see how he competes, how he approaches the meetings, and how he goes on the field and works in practice. I think you can walk out, not know anything, any names, and pick out certain guys by number and see that football is important to them. This isn't just a one-day deal with him – it's a day-in, day-out deal.”
As one of the senior leaders of the 2011 Florida Gators, Rainey, along with his teammates and coaches, recognizes his role as a leader on the team. As the team navigates its way through a challenging October slate, the team looks to him to rally the troops and keep hope alive.
“If I'm down, I can't play well, so I've always have to stay positive,” Rainey acknowledged. “We have a young team. We have to keep our heads high and stay positive.”
