Rainey named team MVP at WKU football banquet

Brad Stephens

Bobby Rainey can add another honor to the long list of accolades he’s achieved at WKU.

The senior running back was named team Most Valuable Player on Sunday at the Toppers’ annual year-end banquet.

Rainey earned the honors after breaking program records for career (4,542) and single-season (1,695) rushing yardage this season.

The Griffin, Ga., native averaged 141.3 yards per game in 2011, the Football Bowl Subdivision’s second-highest total.

Rainey ranks No. 42 all-time for the NCAA in career rushing yardage, and No. 11 in NCAA history with 6,906 career all-purpose yards.

Other major awards are as follows:

Offensive MVP: Junior quarterback Kawaun Jakes

—Jakes went 153 of 276 for 1,854 yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He threw just four picks during WKU’s last eight games. The Toppers were 7-4 in games he started.

Defensive MVP: Sophomore middle linebacker Andrew Jackson

—Jackson finished the season with 109 tackles, more than double the team’s second-highest total (sophomore outside linebacker Xavius Boyd’s 53). He also led the team with 17 tackles for loss and tied for third with three and a half sacks.

Special Teams MVP: Sophomore punter Hendrix Brakefield

—Brakefield punted 64 times for a 41.6 yards per punt average. Brakefield pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 24 times.