OWINGS MILLS - More than three months later, Bobby Rainey is still bitter about not getting drafted.
One of the most productive running backs in college football the last two years, Rainey finished his Western Kentucky career ranked 11th in NCAA history in all-purpose yardage.
He rushed for at least 1,500 yards in each of his final two seasons, becoming just the 10th player in the last 15 years to post back-to-back 1,500 yard seasons.
A capable receiver, he also posted 80 career catches.
Yet, despite the production, Rainey wasn't selected during April's NFL draft.
He signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in early May.
"Still to this day I don't understand it," Rainey said. "I'm basically just glad that the Baltimore Ravens gave me an opportunity to prove all the people that didn't draft me wrong."
In order to do so though, Rainey will have to overcome many of the perceived shortcomings that prevented him from getting selected in April.
Leading up to the draft, the 5-foot-8, 205-pound Rainey was criticized, among other things, for his smallish frame, his lack of elite straight-line speed, his deficiencies in pass protection and his struggles with fumbles.
He fumbled 14 times during his college career.
He also handled a large workload, logging nearly 1,000 career touches, seemingly putting some significant wear and tear on his body.
Nonetheless, Rainey is a quick, hard-nosed runner with good vision and decent hands out of the backfield that has caught the attention of Ravens coaches during the early part of training camp.
He's also been praised in the past for both his character and his work ethic.
"Bobby has opened eyes," said Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, whose family has a strong connection to Rainey's college alma mater as well as his former coach Willie Taggart. "Bobby Rainey is a really good player. It just holds true year-in and year-out, [that] the guys who are most productive in college, often and most times, are the most productive guys in the NFL.
"And here is guy that people wanted to say didn't have this or that, but he did have [a lot of] yards in college. He is putting yards up out here."
Rainey is vying with Bernard Pierce, Anthony Allen and Damien Berry for playing time behind starter Ray Rice.
Rainey has been the most impressive of the competitors during the early part of training camp. Allen and Berry haven't stood out while Pierce has missed time with a hamstring injury.
"It's probably a little premature, but I think [Rainey] is going to do really well in the preseason games," Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said. "I'd be surprised if he doesn't."
