2018 Football Roster
Roster
Chris Rayford
- Position:
- CB
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 200
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Byhalia, MS
- High School/Previous School:
- Byhalia HS
2018 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2016 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
CAREER: An experienced cornerback who was part of MSU’s starting rotation during three of his five years with the program … Excellent leadership skills and also contributed on special teams … Played in 52 games with 11 starts … Collected 55 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss … Also broke up four passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble … Graduated from MSU in December 2018 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
2018 SENIOR SEASON: Played in all 13 games and started twice … Started at strong safety vs. Louisiana (9/15) and at cornerback at Kentucky (9/22) … Totaled 13 tackles, including one tackle for loss … Broke up a pass in four different games and recorded a tackle in nine … Registered one solo tackle, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on Senior Day vs. Arkansas (11/17) … Made the special teams play of the game when he forced and recovered a fumble on the punt team inside the Razorbacks’ 4-yard line … Collected a season-high three tackles vs. Iowa (1/1) in the Outback Bowl.
2017 JUNIOR SEASON: Played in all 13 games with six starts at cornerback … Starts came against LSU, Auburn, BYU, Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisville … Helped form of the Top 12 pass defenses in the nation, allowing only 174.7 yards per game through the air … Collected at least one tackle in all but three games … Two tackles at Auburn (9/30) … Registered a season-high four tackles at Arkansas (11/18) … Had one tackle in TaxSlayer Bowl start.
2016 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Saw action in all 13 games of 2016 campaign, including starts against Samford, Texas A&M and Alabama … Made 23 total tackles … Recorded three solo tackles in the season-opener against South Alabama (9/3) … Tallied a career-high seven tackles, including five unassisted tackles, against Samford Bulldogs in his first career start (10/29) ... Made three tackles in start against No. 1 Alabama …
2015 REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all 13 games during the 2015 campaign … Recorded a tackle in three games, including picking up a season-high three stops against NC State in the 2015 Belk Bowl victory.
2014 TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON: Redshirted during initial year with the program.
HIGH SCHOOL: A three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Scout.com ... Helped Byhalia to a 4-8 overall mark and a trip to the second round of the Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class 4A playoffs ... Played for head coach John Danley ... Earned a spot on the state coaches’ 4A First-Team All-State Defense ... A FOX Memphis All-Mid-South Team pick and an All-Gridiron Third Team selection by the Mississippi Gridiron prior to the start of the 2013 campaign ... A First-Team All-District honoree as a junior and senior and a second-team selection following sophomore campaign ... Named to the 2013 247Sports All-State All-Prospect Second-Team Defense ... Battled through injuries, but still recorded 32 rushes for 324 yards and three touchdowns while adding a catch for 71 yards and a score ... On defense, booked 64 tackles, 6.0 hits for lost yardage, 2.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries (two returned for touchdowns) and two pass breakups ... Anchor of a defense that held opponents to 12 or fewer … Ran track for the Indians and qualified for the 2013 state meet in the 100-meter relay, 400-meter relay and 100-meter dash ... Took fourth place at the North State meet in the 100-meter sprint as a junior.
PERSONAL: Born Christopher Rayford on May 28, 1996 … Mother is Joann Osborn … Has three siblings, Corneshia, Brandon and Vonrico.
RAYFORD’S CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 7, vs. Samford (10-29-16)
Tackles for loss: 1, (twice) last vs. Arkansas (11-17-18)
Forced fumbles: 1, vs. Arkansas (11-17-18)
Fumble recoveries: 1, vs. Arkansas (11-17-18)
Pass breakups: 1, (four times) last vs. Louisiana Tech (11-3-18)
![Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fmsstate.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F1%2F1%2FUSATSI_27828199.jpg&height=340&type=webp)