Gators running backs impress Meyer
A year ago, Chris Rainey's shoulder was so weak that Florida coach Urban Meyer remembered pushing on it and seeing the freshman from Lakeland nearly fall to the ground. Emmanuel Moody was watching from the sidelines, sitting out the season after transferring from Southern Cal.
After a fall of surgery and rehabilitation, Meyer predicted during spring practices that Rainey, who has gained 10-15 pounds, will be a special weapon for the Gators in 2008. At the same time, the Gators' coach confessed all winter he had his fingers crossed that Moody would be a very good running back in Gainesville.
The possible impact of Moody and Rainey in 2008 was very obvious in Saturday's Orange and Blue game, which was a 28-14 win for the Blue.
Rainey had runs of 6, 8, 6 and 21 to key the Blue team's opening drive, finished off on a 9-yard run by Mon Williams. He then caught a 65-yard pass from Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow (13 of 21, 200 yards, two touchdown passes) as a record spring game crowd announced at 61,000 roared at the electric play that made it 14-0 near the end of the first quarter.
"It made me feel good,'' Rainey said. "I had to prove to coach Meyer what I can do so I can play in the game. ... He said if you do well in the spring you will get the ball (in the fall) so I had to do what I can do.''
Rainey was the star of the first half. He finished the game with 75 yards on 11 rushes and the one TD catch for 140 yards on 12 touches.
"I think Chris Rainey is going to be a very, very fine football player for us,'' Meyer said. "If we can get him to 185 pounds that can be really good.''
Rainey said he tips the scales at 177.
Tim Tebow had a 102-degree temperature on Friday night but took some intravenous fluids before the game and played anyway. Meyer said his star quarterback "didn't look like himself'' before the game.
"I probably shouldn't have played him,'' Meyer said. "It's Tim, so he's going to go play.''
Tebow had a pair of first half interceptions. The second was returned 50 yards by Lorenzo Edwards for a touchdown for the Orange squad - among the positive signs for a defense unit that was abused in key moments last season.
Rainey kept a lot of UF followers smiling at his potential as an exciting new weapon. Rainey also had an 18-yard run in the second quarter and finished the 65-yard drive off with a one-yard leap into the end zone to make it 21-7.
Despite ill health and a less than perfect performance, Tim Tebow still had plenty to smile about. He was honored at halftime with the unveiling of his sign on the south end zone wall honoring him for winning the 2007 Heisman Trophy.
As the cover came off the sign he smiled and waved to a standing ovation at Florida Field.
In the second half, it was Moody's turn to impress. He finished with 111 yards on 14 carries, most of which came in the third quarter. He had the final touchdown of the game on a 10-yard run for the Orange squad. But Moody also lost a fumble, which has been a concern this spring.
"He's very talented,'' Meyer said. "But he's not good at ball security. He will not play tailback at the University of Florida without ball control.''
Riley Cooper also had a nice day, catching five passes for 67 yards at receiver. Cam Newton, battling for the backup quarterback job, was just 6 of 18 for 53 yards. John Brantley, expected to compete for the No. 2 job, did not play. He's been nursing a shoulder problem throughout the spring. Highly-decorated receiver recruit Carl Moore (ankle) also didn't play.
"We've got a team that's a lot more mature than we've had in the past,'' Tebow said. "Guys are really stepping up. That's good to see. It makes you very confident. The guys that are out there you can depend on and you're confident in what they can do and it makes everything run a lot smoother and brings everyone's confidence up.''
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