Gators’ redshirt senior running back Chris Rainey (Lakeland, Fla.) and redshirt junior kicker Caleb Sturgis (St. Augustine, Fla.) have been honored by the SEC for their play in UF’s 33-23 victory over Tennessee this past weekend, the Conference announced today. Rainey was named co-Offensive Player of the Week, while Sturgis took home Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
Rainey, who takes home his third-career SEC honor and first-career SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor, tallied 233 all-purpose yards, scored a touchdown and blocked his fifth-career punt, a new school and SEC record in the Gators’ seventh-consecutive win over the Vols.
With his 108 yards rushing and 104 yards receiving against UT, Rainey became the second Gator to record 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game joining Percy Harvin who accomplished the feat against Vanderbilt in 2007. Additionally, Rainey became the second player in the country and first in the SEC to accomplish the feat this season.
For the season, Rainey is leading the Orange and Blue in both rushing (306 yards on 48 carries, 6.4 avg., two touchdowns) and receiving (214 yards on 11 receptions, 19.5 avg., two touchdowns), one of only two players in the nation to lead his team in both categories. Additionally, he is tied for sixth in the country with 520 yards from scrimmage and ranks second in the nation with 8.8 yards per touch among players with 50+ touches.
Sturgis takes home his second-career SEC weekly honor after scoring a career-best 15 points against Tennessee. Sturgis went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals with a long of 46 and converted on all three of his extra point attempts, the four made field goals were also a career-best. Additionally, Sturgis helped pin the Vols back by averaging 65.4 yards per kickoff with three touchbacks.
For the season, Sturgis is a perfect 9-for-9 on field goal attempts, the top total in the nation.
Rainey, Sturgis and the Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) return to action on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they face Kentucky (2-1, 0-0 SEC) in their first road contest of the season at Commonwealth Stadium. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. and will be carried nationally on ESPN.
SEC Players of the Week – Week 3
Co-Offense – Chris Rainey, RB, Florida; Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
Defense – Trey Wilson, DB, Vanderbilt
Special Teams – Caleb Sturgis, K, Florida
Offensive Line – Wesley Johnson, C, Vanderbilt
Defensive Line – Bennie Logan, DT, LSU
Freshman – Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
