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DEL.ICIO.USDarkhorse recruit Raines to attend camp in Athens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Russ Raines dreams of playing college football.
The 6-foot-1, 245-pound junior defensive tackle for Satsuma (Ala.) High is confident his participation in the Mar. 29 Rivals.com 5-star combine in Athens will move him closer to achieving his goal.
“Being from a small town in Alabama and a high school that is generally not known for its football program, I think I just need to do everything I can to get any kind of advantage when it comes to recruiting,” Raines said.
“Going to the Rivals camp can only help me, it isn’t going to hurt me.”
Raines, who is still waiting on his first scholarship offer to arrive, participated in the Nike Combine in Atlanta earlier this month.
He lost a valuable recruiting ally when his high school coach, Jeff Kelly, left at the conclusion of the 2007 season to take a coaching job at neighboring Jackson (Ala.) High.
Kelly lettered at Southern Miss and played quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks.
“Luckily, one of the coaches already at our school was named the head coach,” Raines said. “So It wasn’t a real big transition.
“But after the coaching change a lot of the game film tapes went missing. So I’m in the process of creating a highlight film to send to colleges. I now have some in my possession and I’ll be sending those out soon.”
Raines isn’t concerned about the 20 pounds he has gained since November.
“It’s all legit muscle,” he said. “I’ve been working out. And we’ve got a good strength and conditioning coach here.”
While Raines hopes to drive his stock up next weekend during his visit to Athens, he said he’d be content to hear from any program willing to give him a chance to play football.
“I’m a big college football fan,” he said. “It would be such an honor to be looked at by any of the big schools in the SEC or ACC.
“But I’m hoping to hear from any school, really. How many people can say they’ve been recruited to play college football?”
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools
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By tom
March 18, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
Hey, there is a 143lb. offensive lineman over here at Dacula High School you oughta do a feature story on also. He hasn’t gotten any scholarship offers either but I heard he’s worked his way up to 3rd string and he’s a huge college football fan!
By TheItalianDawg
March 18, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
put on 50 lb of muscle
By Joe Dawg Alumni
March 18, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Keep Hope Alive, don’t crush his dreams. Reality is around the corner kid, avoid it at all costs. Good luck!
By P Dawg
March 18, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
Trust me, if UGA is looking at him, He’s worth a look. Must be a bunch of Tech queers hawking the Dawg blogs for something exciting, as usual. I feel sorry for you.
By Johnny Danger Dawg
March 19, 2008 12:50 AM | Link to this
Tom, your comment is mean but had me in stitches! (I take it that you’re not making fun of the recruit but rather the AJC for running a non-story.)
By whocares
March 19, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
That kid has a great outlook on life, but maybe he should get faster and not bigger, and play end or backer… But really, why are we reading this?
By knoitall
March 19, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
The funniest thing is, the 5-star isn’t even a camp, it’s a talking seminary and eyeball test for the recruiting website. Nice story AJC, great research and info.
By Dr. Merkwurdigliebe
March 19, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Hey J. Hood - The punter at Social Circle High is 7’5” and weighs 800 lbs., he doesn’t have a scholarship to a Div. 1 college yet, but he’s attending the Burger King football training camp in East Bumble F_ck Georgia, so could you tell us how he does. Oh, his name is Billy Ray Schwartzcohen.
By NotCriticizing
March 25, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
You guys should be ashamed of yourselves! How is this a non-story? Sounds like a pretty good story to me - give the kid a break.
By NotCriticizing
March 25, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
You guys should be ashamed of yourselves! How is this a non-story? Sounds like a pretty good story to me - give the kid a break.
By NotCriticizing
March 25, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
You guys should be ashamed of yourselves! How is this a non-story? Sounds like a pretty good story to me - give the kid a break.
By BamaInGA
March 26, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
It was my understanding that you had to be invited to this combine. Everyone that has left negative comments on this board should be ashamed of yourselves. Your reading an article on something positive a kid is doing with his life, instead of the rest of the crap you read in the news about athletes getting arrested and all kinds of others undesirable things. So I think you all should gain some respect and get a life instead of poking fun at a 17 year old kid that is trying to better himself for his future.
By OYeOfLittleFaith
March 26, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
You’re ignorant and have no life
By Mike
March 26, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Keep up your humble can do attitude Russ, you’ll get what you want. I just did some checking around and found that you are also an “A Student” academically but then I don’t guess that really does not matter anymore in COLLEGE football. You have my support Russ wherever you may wind up. We need more young kids out there like you. Go get em!
By Mike
March 26, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Now I supose if this same 17 year old had been arrested for drugs or assault those of you who are so critical of this outstanding young man would be praising the criminal! how dare you all!
By Chase
March 26, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
I’ve heard of this kid - can’t wait to see his game film. Hope he plays for the DAWGS!!
By Dan
March 28, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
I have heard of him too. I watched a film of him playing with Satsuma High School, he’s a go getter and he is still growing. I bet he will top out at 6’3 260, he is quick, agile and SMART! Good luck Russ I hope Alabama is looking at you! They better be!