Big things are expected of this junior who won 1st-Team All-Big 12 honors a year ago in his first year as a starting cornerback ... Has a fearless mentality which serves him well out on the island, and he's a legitimate threat to break off a big return anytime he's got the ball in his hands ... Could factor into the kick/punt return games as well...
2011 SEASON
Won the starting job in fall camp and turned in an outstanding season, as he won 1st-Team All-Big 12 honors ... Set an MU record, and ranked 4th in the NCAA with his 18 passes defended, while he also ranked 5th on the team with 69 tackles ... Recorded five tackles against Miami (Ohio), three solo and two assisted, in the first start of his career ... kept the Redhawks off the scoreboard late in the first half by intercepting a Zac Dysert pass in the end zone after Miami had driven 67 yards down inside the MU 15-yard-line ... recorded three tackles - one solo - against Western Illinois ... in just the second punt return of his career, returned a late fourth quarter kick 44 yards for Mizzou's final score of the night ... recorded five solo tackles and picked off a Landry Jones pass off a deflection in Mizzou's loss at No. 1 Oklahoma .. had the second most tackles on the team against Kansas State with a total of eight ... of those eight tackles, seven were solo, while he also registered 2.5 TFL ... had a monster game against Iowa State, finishing the game with nine tackles, the second most on the team ... also forced his first fumble of the season and broke up a pass against the Cyclones ... intercepted Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden in the end zone and returned it 54 yards into Cowboy territory for his second pick of the year ... also recorded six tackles and broke up three passes on the day ... posted career-bests in tackles (10) and pass breakups (four) against Texas A&M, which helped him earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors ... posted a seven tackle day at Baylor while also adding another pass breakup ... finished the Texas game with six tackles and two pass breakups ... recorded a pair of tackles and two more pass breakups against Texas Tech, giving him 16 for the season which broke previous MU single season record of 15 (set in 2002 by Michael Harden) ... posted three tackles against Kansas, including an assisted tackle for loss...
2010 SEASON
Earned a letter as a true freshman, as he proved quickly in fall camp that he was ready to contribute to the Tiger defense ... Played in all 13 games and recorded 26 tackles in all and broke up a pass as he saw time on special teams, and also more and more on defense as the year progressed ... Made one tackle against Illinois, in his first collegiate appearance ... Had three stops against McNeese State ... Added three tackles in both the Miami (Ohio) game Colorado game ... Had another three-tackle game against Nebraska ... Best game of the year came at Texas Tech, as he made eight tackles (all solo stops) ... Recorded two tackles against Kansas and also broke up a pass in MU's domination of its border rival.
HIGH SCHOOL
A standout two-way player with good instincts, speed and a physical nature to whatever position he's lined up at ... Ranked as the No. 9 overall talent in the state of Missouri by Rivals.com, and also by the same outlet as the nation's No. 51-ranked cornerback prospect ... Scout.com slotted him as the nation's No. 52-ranked cornerback talent, while he was ranked by ESPN.com as the nation's No. 57 cornerback prospect ... Was a two-time First-Team All-State performer ... Helped lead his team to the Missouri Class 5 title game as a senior in 2009, before they fell to Webster Groves in the championship game ... Ran for 78 yards and made three tackles in the title game, as his team held a 14-10 lead late in the third quarter before eventually falling, 31-14 ... Had a monster senior season, as he ran for 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 400 yards, while also starring in the secondary by making 72 tackles and two interceptions ... Turned in an 89-tackle season as a junior, when he added 5 interceptions (including one he returned for a score) in 2008 ... Added 88 stops and five interceptions as a sophomore in 2007 ... High school coach - Ryan Schartz ... Also a standout performer in track and basketball for his school, as he won all-state honors in track two different years.
PERSONAL
Parents - Edwin Gaines & Alta Bailey ... Interested in studying management at Mizzou ... Lists hobbies as reading and playing video games, especially Madden Football ... Has served as a referee for little league basketball games in his spare time ... Chose Mizzou very early in the recruiting process, soon after receiving a scholarship offer.
