Chris Rainey
| No. 22 – Pittsburgh Steelers | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Running Back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 2, 1988 Lakeland, Florida |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | Florida |
| NFL draft: | 2012 / round: 5 / pick: 159 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Chris Rainey (born March 2, 1988) is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, and was a member of Florida's BCS National Championship team in 2009. The Steelers selected him in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Early years
Rainey was born in Lakeland, Florida, the son of a single mother.[1] He attended Lakeland High School, where he became a standout running back for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts high school football team.[2] During his high school years, he lived with the family of twin brothers Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Pouncey, and all three were standout members of the Dreadnaughts football team.[1] As a senior in 2006, he led his team with 2,478 yards rushing thirty-two touchdowns—including fifteen touchdown runs of fifty yards or more—and helped lead the Lakeland Dreadnaughts to their third consecutive Florida Class 5A state championship and second straight USA Today national championship.[2] Following his senior season, he was a U.S. Army high school All-American and an all-state selection by the Florida Sports Writers Association, and finished his prep career with more than 7,000 all-purpose yards and ninety touchdowns.[2]
College career
Rainey accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Urban Meyer and coach Will Muschamp's Florida Gators football teams from 2007 to 2011.[3] After injuring his shoulder as a true freshman in 2007, he was redshirted.[2] He was a member of the Gators' 2008 team that won the 2008 SEC Championship Game and the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.[2] During his career as a Gator, he played in fifty-two games, compiled 2,464 yards and thirteen touchdowns on 396 rushing attempts, 795 yards and six touchdowns on sixty-nine receptions, and 454 return yards on eighteen kickoffs.[2] On special teams, he holds the team career record for blocked kicks (4).[3] Following his senior season in 2011, his fellow Gators recognized him as the team's most valuable player.
As as freshman, he was also a 100-meter dash runner for the Florida Gators men's track and field team, and received All-American honors as a member of the Gators' third-place relay team in the 4x100-meter event at the 2008 NCAA national outdoor track and field championships.[4]
Professional career
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Rainey in the fifth round, 159th overall pick, of the 2012 NFL Draft,[5][6] and the team announced he had signed a four-year contract on May 6, 2012.[7][8]
See also
- 2008 Florida Gators football team
- Florida Gators
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of Pittsburgh Steelers players
References
- ^ a b Ed Bouchette, "Ex-Gator Chris Rainey joins 'brother' in Pittsburgh," The Republic (May 2, 2012), Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f GatorZone.com, Football History, 2011 Roster, Chris Rainey. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ a b 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 46–47, 57, 58, 59, 63–64, 69–74, 127, 138–140, 148–149, 154, 172–173, 185 (2011). Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ GatorZone.com, Track & Field History, 2008 Roster, Chris Rainey. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ Michael DiRocco, "Rainey gives Steelers plenty of options," ESPN (April 28, 2012). Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ Rachel George, "Florida RB Chris Rainey selected in the fifth round of NFL Draft," Sun-Sentinel (April 28, 2012). Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ "Steelers Sign Fifth-Round Pick Chris Rainey," Steelers.com (May 6, 2012). Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^ Ed Bouchette, "Steelers sign two rookie draft picks," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (may 6, 2012). Retrieved May 6, 2012.
External links
- Chris Rainey – Florida Gators player profile
- Chris Rainey – Pittsburgh Steelers player profile