Chris Rainey struggled through a tumultuous season on and off the
field in 2010, but according to Florida coach Will Muschamp, the
redshirt senior running back has already started 2011 on the right
foot.
Muschamp said Rainey is having a “phenomenal spring” through six
practices, and the 5-foot-9, 175-pound back is adjusting well to
the Gators’ new pro-style offense.
“He really enjoys getting the ball deeper in the backfield to have
a chance for his vision. He’s got great cutback ability,” Muschamp
said Friday. “You’ve got to be very gap-sound defensively when he’s
carrying the football. He can take the ball all the way back. I’m
really pleased with his progress.”
Rainey rushed for 366 yards and two touchdowns and added 216 yards
and three scores in the receiving game last season, but he received
more attention for his actions off the field.
He was arrested and charged in September with aggravated stalking
and suspended from the team after sending harassing text messages
to a former girlfriend. Rainey agreed to a plea deal and rejoined
to the Gators about a month later, eventually returning to the
field Oct. 30 against Georgia.
But Muschamp said Rainey has impressed early on this spring in
terms of his work ethic, as well as his ability to learn the
Gators’ new offense.
“He has really worked his tail off as far as, day to day, going in
and doing the things you’ve got to do to be successful,” Muschamp
said.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Cambria; min-height: 14.0px;">
INJURY UPDATE: Muschamp added two names to
Florida’s injury list Friday afternoon.
Junior running back Mike Gillislee will be held back in practice
due to a stress fracture in his foot, and sophomore defensive end
Kedric Johnson will likely miss the rest of the spring with a
sprained knee.
Muschamp said all his players, even those with injuries, go through
team meetings, pre-practice walkthroughs and weight training
sessions, as he views this time as an important period to install
his coaching staff’s new schemes.
“It’s critical to me from an evaluation standpoint that guys go
through spring,” Muschamp said. “If a guy’s limited in practice,
can rep some but not the full practice, we keep them on the field.
If they’re not, then we generally have been putting them back in
the weight room and put them with our strength staff.”
