Stephaun Raines is keeping his priorities in order.

The wide receiver/cornerback from Dalton (Ga.) High School said he would love to play in the NFL one day but right now is focusing on getting ready to attend Tennessee.

Raines signed a national letter of intent to play football for UT on Feb. 1.

Raines talked about his goals at UT and what it would mean to make it to the NFL in this GVX Q and A.

Q: What was your most memorable moment from an official visit?

A: It’d be watching the guys box at Arkansas. We watched them box before we went out to do some things. It was just basically playing around for fun.

Q: Have you ever boxed?

A: Oh no. I want to though. I’d be good. I’m quick.

Q: What was your least favorite part of recruiting?

A: I’d have to say some of the people at school giving me heck about where I was going to go. They would tell me where I needed to go and try to make my decision for me. They’d say I should go to this certain place just because they’ve got one advantage over another school. At first it was OK, and then it got to the point I was getting annoyed.

Q: What was the reaction when you announced your decision to attend UT?

A: It was at a banquet so it was like half and half. There are a lot of Georgia fans here so there were a lot of claps and then there were some gasps.

Q: Who has been the most significant influence on your football career?

A: My mom. We went through a lot of things with my father and through all of that she stayed calm and just helped me through a lot of things. She just stayed strong through it all. She told me it’s my decision and I’m the one that will have to spend the next four years wherever I go and whatever I do I’m going to have to make the right decision for me.

Q: When did you know you would have a future in football?

A: My junior year because that was my breakout year I guess. I didn’t think it was supposed to be until I had my first touchdown. I was still kind of timid until I caught that first touchdown pass. After that my confidence went up. I started practicing harder and working out harder.

Q: How much did it help to gain confidence in yourself?

A: It was very important. I always wanted to go to college but I couldn’t figure out how I was going to go because we’re not that wealthy. I wasn’t going to go by money or academics. Football was my key out.

Q: Do you model your game after anyone?

A: Not that I can think of off the bat. I would like to meet Deion Sanders. He’s a great player. He’s always been great with how smooth he is with his running and how quick he is and how flashy is. I’m not like that. But how flashy he is with his game, he can back it up.

Q: Some people say Deion was afraid to hit on defense. What do you think about that?

A: A lot of people say that but I don’t think that takes away form him being a great player. At his position he has to hit, but it’s not too important that he makes all the tackles.

Q: What are some goals for yourself at UT?

A: Make new friends and create a new lifestyle for myself. I want to learn a couple of self-value type things and get an education. If possible go to the NFL, but that’s not the most important.

Q: What would it mean to make it to the NFL?

A: I can’t even think. It would be great. It would be like a dream come true, like every kid’s dream. It’s always in the back of my mind. Right now I’m thinking what I’m going to major in, all the academic parts. I know football takes care of itself. That’s (NFL) always in the back of my mind.

Q: What is your favorite part about playing football?

A: The competition with the other players and seeing how good I actually am going against some of the good players in the state.

Q: What do you think it will do for your game to play in the SEC with a high-level of competition?

A: That’ll boost my talent and my confidence a whole lot. I’m not trying to sound flashy but if you give me four years to do anything, I’m going to be one of the top players at whatever I’m doing. It’s going to help me out a lot with a lot of things.

Q: What athletic achievement are you most proud of?

A: Beating my dad in a foot race. I was 15 (years-old). He beat me earlier and I didn’t really worry about it until I got to high school. He was still fast but he challenged me again after a track meet. I was kind of tired but I still beat him. I was happy about that. I rubbed it in his face the whole time. He was always talking about how I would never beat him.

Q: Who is your favorite celebrity?

A: Jamie Foxx. He’s great at everything he does. He’s an actor, comedian and a singer. He’s one of the top at everything he does. That just drives me to push harder. For him to be able to balance all of those things and still be successful, it just drives me to do the same.