Interview with Do-It-All 2017 California 4-Star ATH Jaylon Redd

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Few college football teams would be as lucky to have the kind of talent Rancho Cucamonga High School has in their secondary. Shutting down opposing California passing attacks has become commonplace for the trio of highly regarded recruits; Thomas Graham Jr. (4-star), Tayari Venable (3-star), and Jaylon Redd (4-star). Each player is being heavily recruited Redd may bring a little something more to the table on offense lining up at tailback.

Venable, Graham, and Redd are each Class of 2017 recruits. Venable is verbally committed to Washington State and Graham is pledged to USC. Redd has not committed yet, but has nine offers already on the table with a list that is sure to grow over the next couple of months. The schools already seeing the brilliance in his play include Arizona State, Washington, UCLA, USC, Boise State, Colorado, Oklahoma, Washington State, and Michigan. Other schools that have shown interest but have not put an offer on the table yet, for some odd reason, include Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon State, and Notre Dame.

So what is all the fuss about with Redd? An unfair but reasonable comparison for Redd in many ways is Christian McCaffery. The Stanford Heisman Trophy finalist was a standout in two phases of the game for the Cardinal in 2016. McCaffrey, all listed 6’0”, 195 pounds, of him ran for 1,847 yards with eight touchdowns, caught 41 passes for 540 yards with four touchdowns, and had 1,042 kick return yards on 36 attempts with a 98-yard kick return with the world watching.

Redd was a standout in three phases of the game for the Cougars rushing for 645 yards with nine touchdowns, caught 20 passes for 232 yards with three touchdowns, had 376 kick return yards, and a 99-yard punt return for a touchdown. The divider, among a few things, is Redd gets after it on defense racking up 63 tackles, 33 solo, with a tackle for a loss, one forced fumble, three pass deflections, four passes defended, and three interceptions.

The all-around performance is no fluke. During his sophomore season he rushed 27 times for 306 yards with two scores and caught a 15-yard touchdown pass. He returned kicks adding up 355 yards on special teams and started honing his skill set as a true cover corner getting 17 stops and picked off two passes.

When watching Redd in action, his natural instincts as a corner jump out immediately. From film study to repetition in practice, Redd reads the play and routinely beats his guy to the spot on passing downs. Plus, he has the speed to make up for any lost ground clocking in a 4.48 over the summer. On offense, he is a one-cut back who explodes through the hole. He has great field vision to make the necessary cut and has the legs to outrun every other defensive back out there, even those with a good angle on him.

The Cougars finished their 2015 season 9-4 making it to the third round of the California High School Playoffs before falling 62-56 to Vista Murrieta in five overtimes. As college coaches start making their rounds again once the recruiting dead period is over, expect a few more scholarship offers to be thrown Redd’s way from now until National Signing Day before another wave of hopefuls join the party.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Jaylon after his standout season to get his thoughts on the Cougars season and his play on the field, and got a recruiting news update.

Interview

Jaylon, you guys have a lot of talent and did well getting into the third round of the playoffs. Looking back, were you pleased with how the team played as unit in 2015?

“I was pleased with how we played later in the season. The Upland game was tough (final regular season game, lost 31-21). They wore us down. After that loss we were hungry and practiced harder, and played harder. In our semifinal game, we were down 18 but we came back against Vista Murrieta to tie it up. Later in the season I was really proud of how we played as a team.”

You played all over the field. Playing all of those different positions, were you pleased with how you played during your junior season?

“I was pleased for the most part, yes. I feel like I could have done better. In the Vista Murrieta game I dropped an interception. That could have been a game changer.”

Based on the talent you believe will be back on the team next year, will you guys be dangerous again in 2016?

“Oh yeah. We’ll be an even better team. We have all of our defensive backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen and defensive linemen all coming back. We should be better.”

What are you going to work on in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I’m going to do some 7×7 and work on stuff at wide receiver, cornerback, and at safety. I’m going to work on my release at wide receiver. I’m just going to try to improve my overall game. I want to become a more physical player. I’m going to work on my footwork and my speed at running back.”

You also run track for Rancho Cucamonga right?

“Yes.”

Which events do you participate in with track?

“The 100, 200 4×1, and 4×4.”

Which even is your best?

“The 200.”

What is your best time in the 200?

“I ran a 22-flat last summer.”

What is your best time in the 100?

“10.9.”

With all of that speed you can line up anywhere on the field at the skill position or in the secondary. Which position is your favorite?

“I can’t really say. I love returning kicks and on the defensive side of the ball I like locking down the other teams’ best receiver. That’s fun for me. At safety, I like to run and gun down on the ball carriers. I like coming down full speed. I also like to make plays at running back.”

What are your strengths on the field at cornerback? What makes you such a good cover corner?

“What makes me such a good corner, in 7×7 games that made me into a physical corner. I like to play with my hands. I’m strong and fast so you can’t run away from me. My speed and physicality I’d say make me a good corner.”

Has a wide receiver ever beaten you down field for a big play?

“This year no, last year yes. I can’t place his name, he played for Mission Viejo and was a senior last year. No. 9, that’s all I remember (Steven Munoz).”

What are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“My goals are to be better than I was my junior year. I want to earn first team All-State for a third year straight year. I plan on earning that.”

You’ve been named All-State three straight years?

“Last year I was All-League and All-State. This year I was All-League so I am expecting to be named All-State again this year but the All-State selections have not come out yet.”

 

Have you made plans to attend any one-day college camps yet?

“None planned as of right now. I usually go to a couple.”

Which camps did you attend last year?

“I went to a Cal camp, a Washington State camp, Utah, Oregon State, and UCLA. I want to go to USC camp this year for sure.”

What schools are recruiting you right now that have not offered you yet?

“Oregon, Oregon State, and Notre Dame.”

Do you plan on taking any unofficial visits during the offseason?

“Yeah, I want to go to USC and I want to go to Cal. I’m planning on going to Washington for some visits with my teammate Tayari Venable. In the spring I want to visit the Arizona schools too and I’ll go from there.”

Which position are some of these schools recruiting you to play, corner or running back?

“Boise State is recruiting me at running back. Washington at running back and corner. UCLA is recruiting me at corner and as a slot-flanker. Cal is recruiting me at running back.”

Are you and some of your teammates looking to play together at the next level?

“I’m not saying we want to go to the same school together, but it would be a good look to go with Thomas Graham, who is committed to USC, Tayari Venable, who is committed to WSU, and me in the secondary.”

What are the main factors you will consider in choosing a college without any other influences?

“I look at how will they get me prepared for the next level, not just football but life in general. My ability to play my freshman year and the relationship the coaching staffs build with me.”

Are you interested in other conferences outside of the Pac-12?

“Yes, of course, does not matter to me about going to other areas for school.”

Which schools out there are you interested in that you have not heard from yet or which conferences are of interest to you?

“I’m interested all the SEC schools, Florida State, all the ACC school, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M – all those powerhouse schools.”

Do you have a time frame in mind when you would like to commit to a school?

“I’m not sure yet. It depends if I want to graduate early yet or not or if I want to wait. I have not decided yet.”

I always like to find out how everything is going in the classroom. Do you have a GPA you don’t mind sharing?

“I have a 3.3.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“No, not yet. I’m taking my tests next semester.”

Last question. What is your favorite part of playing football?

“My favorite part about playing football is, I can let all of my anger out. It’s fun to score a touchdown, get an interception and score a touchdown off the interception. I like it when you can make plays to show off your talent in other ways. It’s a fun sport overall.”

Jaylon, thanks for your time today. Good luck with the one-day camps and 7×7 tournaments.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: allbuffs.com; No. 5 Jaylon Redd.

Photo credit: storify.com; No. 5 Jaylon Redd tracks down a ball carrier.