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Will Redmond, CB, Mississippi State: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

By Jonathan Gross

Nov 1, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Will Redmond (2) grabs the ball for an interception against Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Demetrius Wilson (85) at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs defeat the Arkansas Razorbacks 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Will Redmond (2) grabs the ball for an interception against Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Demetrius Wilson (85) at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs defeat the Arkansas Razorbacks 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the NFL continues to become a more pass-happy league, the demand for quality defensive backs increases. General Managers, meet Will Redmond. The 6-0, 186-pound cornerback out of Mississippi State has all the tools to succeed at the next level. As a Bulldog, Redmond faced off against some of the best wide receivers in the country and was able to prove his worth in those matchups. Not to mention, he battled elite wide-out De’Runnya Wilson in practice.

Over his three years seeing the field, Redmond amassed 94 tackles (5.5 tackles per loss), eight passes defended and five interceptions. Considering the fact that he only played 26 games over that span, those numbers are solid. There are some questions marks, however.

He was involved in a recruiting scandal and tore his ACL as a senior. Nonetheless, Redmond will get plenty of looks from front-offices.

Strengths

Will Redmond is sound across the board. He’s a great athlete with incredible field awareness. Most importantly, he’s smart. Sometimes, defensive backs trust their abilities too much and gamble on plays, resulting in big yardage for the offense. Redmond doesn’t do that.

The above video is from Redmond’s junior season. Skip to the 0:45 second mark and one can see why he is so highly regarded. Redmond rides the receiver and makes the play. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. Some defensive backs would try to pick that off, which, often times, ends up poorly for the defender.

Redmond also does a good job of finding the ball carrier. His size doesn’t always allow him to make the tackle, but his pursuit of running backs allows his teammates to finish off the job.

Weaknesses

Redmond needs to bulk up. At only 186 pounds, he struggles to tackle and will not be able to cover big receivers at the next level. Luckily, this can be addressed. An NFL lifting program will do wonders for the cornerback

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Another concern is his ACL tear. Will he make a full recovery? Teams will have a chance to see how the injury has affected his physical abilities at the upcoming combine. News from Redmond’s camp suggests he is recovering well.

Outlook

The combine will be key in terms of when Will Redmond is drafted. With a strong showing, his name will be called in the third or fourth round. If the ACL tear proves to have more of an impact than expected, Redmond could slide to the sixth or seventh round. At the next level, he will most likely play nickelback due to his lack of size. If he can stay healthy and bulk up, Redmond will have a solid tenure in the NFL.

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