Published: November 01, 2009 10:21 pm      

Adam Krohn: Raines glad to be a Vol

Stephaun Raines’ memories of signing to play football at the University of Tennessee are clear.

Coming off an impressive career at Dalton High, where he was named The Daily Citizen’s All-Area Player of the Year as a senior, Raines looked forward to being a Volunteer. However, he remembers his decision — Raines originally signed with the Vols in 2006 — was met with criticism from University of Georgia fans in his hometown.

The Bulldogs were coming off a 10-win season that included the Southeastern Conference championship. The Vols had finished 2005 with a 5-6 record and three SEC wins.

“I was surrounded by Georgia fans,” said Raines, who said the Bulldogs were initially an option for him. “I was scrutinized for not going to Georgia. People would say, ‘Why are you going there? You’re not going to win.’ Everyone talked bad about my choice. But it turned out to be the best decision I ever made.”

Raines had to take a detour to Knoxville, though, first attending Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, where he redshirted on the football team. He arrived at Tennessee in time for a disappointing 2008 season in which the Vols finished 5-7 and fired long-time coach Phillip Fulmer.

But Fulmer was replaced by Lane Kiffin and now Raines — who was a receiver in high school but moved to defensive back in college — feels like he’s a part of something special. Tennessee is in the process of turning its fortunes around and is 4-4 after a convincing 31-13 home win over No. 21-ranked South Carolina on Saturday. Raines said the victory has everyone “feeling great” and “expecting to win” as the team looks to earn a bowl appearance and end the regular season on a five-game win streak.

That goal is reasonable. The Vols take on 2-6 Memphis at home before closing with conference games against opponents with losing SEC records — Ole Miss (2-3), Vanderbilt (0-5) and Kentucky (1-4).

Even if Tennessee doesn’t win out, Raines has a special victory he’ll look back on from the season — a 45-19 clubbing of the heavily favored Bulldogs on Oct. 10.

“I would say, personally, that would be the biggest win for me because we proved the doubters wrong,” Raines said. “Now they know I didn’t have to go to Georgia to be a winner.

“We can beat them any day.”

Raines believes the Vols are able to beat teams like Georgia because of the enthusiasm Kiffin brings to Tennessee. The team shares its 34-year-old coach’s excitement. The players are jelling and want to win more than they did a year before. The coaching staff is pushing them harder.

“It’s great playing for (Kiffin),” Raines said. “There’s nothing else like it. He’s so energetic and keeps us pumped ... we see eye-to-eye with him more than last year (with Fulmer). I don’t want to speak for the whole team, but personally, I understand what he’s trying to do with the program.”

Raines — who stands at 5-feet-10 inches and weighs 179 pounds — practices with the second-team defense and is behind Dennis Rogan on the depth chart at cornerback. He’s seen action in all eight games on special teams and has three tackles after only playing in a junior varsity game in 2008.

As he waits patiently for a chance to play in the Vols secondary, he’s absorbing all he can from defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin — Lane’s father and a legendary NFL coordinator who helped Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title in 2002.

“It’s just great having someone with the coaching experience and credibility he has,” Raines said. “It’s big to have him around and teaching me what I need to know to make it to the next level, because who knows better than him? He’s got connections and if he thinks you can play, all he has to do is call someone in the NFL and they’ll trust him.”

With two more years of eligibility after this season, Raines believes he’ll get his chance to show what he can do as a defensive back. When the opportunity comes, he has no doubt he’ll be ready.

“I’ve been ready,” he said. “I’ve been preparing since last year. Give me two years to do anything and I’m going to do it.”

Adam Krohn is a sports writer for The Daily Citizen. You can write to him at adamkrohn@daltoncitizen.com or follow him on Twitter @adamkrohn.