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Redding off to fast start at the Opening, talks "surprise" UM commitment

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Stefan Adams said:
Out at the Opening Finals in Texas, one of the top performers of day one had to be 2020 IMG Academy (FL) 4-star WR Michael Redding. Redding was hard for DB’s to handle in the 1-on-1 drills, and also tested very well in the combine.

“I felt really, really good, I felt really, really confident,” Redding said of his performance. “Went out there, 1-on-1’s, was smooth, did everything I was supposed to do, dominated. I felt I should’ve done better on the 40-yard dash, I ran a 4.5, still want to get faster. The vert, of course, I always do good on that, jumped a 40 inch vert. Basically everything else I really did well in. I’m proud of myself because I went out in the 1-on-1’s and dominated.”

Were there any DB’s that stood out to him as a tough matchup?

“Not necessarily, I wasn’t really focused on the DB’s, it was more of a competition with myself,” Redding said. “So, I wasn’t really focused on who I was going against, I was just focused on what I needed to do to get open and get the ball.”

Of course, Redding has been making waves off the field recently as well. Right after the check-in for the event yesterday, he talked to the Miami coaches and decided to commit to the Hurricanes. He said he’s had his mind made up for about a week or so, but was unsure when he was going to make it official with the staff.

“It was a surprise for me too, I didn’t plan to do it yesterday,” Redding said. “I was talking to coach Stubbs, and then I ended up talking to coach Diaz, then I made it happen.”

Redding made his first visit to Miami in early June, and the Canes won him over on the trip. Two big deciding factors for him were that Miami was a private school and has great academics, as well as the feeling that WR coach Taylor Stubblefield is a very technical coach that can develop him for the next level.

“The visit was amazing, especially talking with coach Stubbs, working out with him and seeing how he coaches,” Redding said. “He told me a lot of things about Miami and all the things that he told me of course were all good things. And they didn’t really have any negatives. There was nothing like ‘Ah, that’s a deal-breaker.’ No, they had everything. Them being a private school and the academics being good and then coach Stubbs being a very technical coach. The offense that they have, spread mixed with a little pro too. Everything was lining up, everything was kind of perfect in a sense.”

Being from the Pensacola area, many figured that the Florida State Seminoles led for Redding and that it was a matter of time before he ended up in Tallahassee. However, according to Redding, his reported interest in FSU was over-blown.

“I was a lot more open than most people thought. Since FSU is close to my home, that was the school I could visit the most,” Redding said. “But yeah, I was a lot more open than what people thought. Purdue was even still in the mix, people were sleeping on Purdue. My WR coach at IMG (Desmond Tardy) used to play at Purdue and my dad has a friend that works up there, they’re a great school over there. Notre Dame too.”

Right now, the Hurricanes are working with a top 10 2020 class regardless of which recruiting service you prefer, and Category20 is growing by the day.

“It’s looking smooth - I saw somebody just committed today (Romello Height),” Redding said of the 2020 class. “It looks like we’re just going up from here. Even though we had a few decommits, from now on we’ll just be moving up.”

The 6-1 195 pound receiver also spent some time today chopping it up with his future QB at Miami, Tyler Van Dyke.

“I was talking trash to him, telling him, ‘You better be out there throwing dimes’,” Redding said. “He’s actually not on my 7-on-7 team, so I’m not going to be able to get no balls from him. I was trying to see him throw but I was really more focused on my own thing today.”

While Redding doesn’t rule out making future visits to other schools, he says he is glad he has his commitment out of the way and wants to concentrate on taking his game to the next level during his final season of high school at IMG more than recruiting.

“Actually, I don’t have a plan (on visits). I’m going keep it honest with you, I’m just focusing on myself and how I can get better,” Redding said. “So there’s really no plan right now. I’m glad that I’m committed and now I can focus more on myself and how I can get better.”

And, finally, what are Redding’s plans for his Hurricane career?

“Kind of just going in there with that dog mentality, that work hard mentality, just getting better,” Redding said. “I’m just going in to dominate, make a statement, learn from the older guys, learn from the veterans, and continue to improve at Miami.”

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Saw him play against Mater Dei last year - He's a baller. Great addition to the team..
 
theuksu said:
@DMoney do you see 4.5 speed or quick twitch when you watch Redding?
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He’s a long strider that has to refine his technique a little bit and if he does he we could see him running high 4.3s honestly since he’s already at 4.50 with his impressive frame of 6’1 194. He’s just an exceptional athlete and hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential because he’s still developing as a receiver. High upside guy
 
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Stefan Adams said:
Two big deciding factors for him were that.......the feeling that WR coach Taylor Stubblefield is a very technical coach that can develop him for the next level.
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Yeap! This is exactly what I was banking on with this hire & it’s starting to pay off. I love it!

Be weary of anyone complaining about coach Stubbs. He’s a really good dude & an excellent teacher of the position. It’s all he knows bc he wasn’t blessed with crazy size & speed..he worked like a dog to make himself a great cfb player. He has so many tools for our guys to work with.
 
Tee3000 said:
Yeap! This is exactly what I was banking on with this hire & it’s starting to pay off. I love it!

Be weary of anyone complaining about coach Stubbs. He’s a really good dude & an excellent teacher of the position. It’s all he knows bc he wasn’t blessed with crazy size & speed..he worked like a dog to make himself a great cfb player. He has so many tools for our guys to work with.
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If he can teach our receivers to get consistently open and catch better than he’s good in my book which is what we didn’t see on the field last year regardless of bad playcalling/qb play or not. Always going to be able to recruit talented receivers at Miami
 
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HighSeas said:
When you look at some of the top rated WRs from recent years like Cooper, Jeudy and Calvin Ridley they are all guys who win in the "small game" with technique and movement skills. This should be the primary archetype of WR that Miami recruits and builds offense for.
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UM and every other program in the country would want guys like those 3.
 
The Franchise said:
UM and every other program in the country would want guys like those 3.
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Yeah I try not to make captain obvious posts but I didn't really elaborate well there. Obviously every program wants 5* college-ready talent. I meant that..
A) we should be recruiting skilled WRs who can run routes and separate from various alignments, regardless of rank or supposed "physical tools"
B) Those receivers will presumably be more attracted to a position coach and system that further refines their technique and provides opportunities to produce. In other words, real recognize real.
 
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HighSeas said:
Yeah I try not to make captain obvious posts but I didn't really elaborate well there. Obviously every program wants 5* college-ready talent. I meant that..
A) we should be recruiting skilled WRs who can run routes and separate from various alignments, regardless of rank or supposed "physical tools"
B) Those receivers will presumably be more attracted to a position coach and system that further refines their technique and provides opportunities to produce. In other words, real recognize real.
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C4098F34-E953-4F8D-8DB7-266902F8C3E2.gif
 
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brock said:
He’s a long strider that has to refine his technique a little bit and if he does he we could see him running high 4.3s honestly since he’s already at 4.50 with his impressive frame of 6’1 194. He’s just an exceptional athlete and hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential because he’s still developing as a receiver. High upside guy
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Could have sworn he @ Dmoney on that one hahahah
 
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