Sobo's Players of Interest #15: Vince Redd

The linebacker took four years to launch, but could winds up an early pick on day two of the draft. What has pro scouts so excited? Here's Sobo's take, as well as that of Tom Marino, an NFL scout with 30 years of experience...

Vince Redd LB Liberty

SOBO SEZ: NFL teams are always looking for late round gems. Scouts meticulously scour the entire countryside for these much sought after prospects, and more often than not a few physically talented prospects of note present themselves from small schools.

Liberty’s Vince Redd is arguably one of the hottest and the fastest rising properties for teams which employ a 3-4 defensive front. The former Division I-AA standout is a 6 feet 6 inches tall 262 pound outside linebacker with previous experience in the system, which is rarely used at the college level.

Impressing scouts not only with his size but his natural speed as well, Redd was able to run his 40 yard dash time in 4.54 seconds. In his only season as a Flame, the linebacker tallied 63 total tackles, 13.5 of which were for loss, and 6.5 sacks.

Previous to his two year stint on Liberty’s campus, Redd was a Virginia Cavalier and even won two letters from the football program by receiving playing time as both a freshman and sophomore.  Virginia head coach, Al Groh, subsequently dismissed Redd from the team after his sophomore campaign for violating undisclosed team rules and a transfer became imminent.

Initiallym Redd was going to transfter to Grambling St. before paperwork issues nixed that possibility. The large linebacker then followed his former UVA linebacker coach, Danny Rocco, who went on to become Liberty’s head coach.

A year on the bench due to a late transfer and some academic problems let Redd fully relish his senior year where he finished runner-up as the Big South Conference’s player of the year. As a player, Redd has the versatility of playing from a two point stance and with his hand in the dirt.

He will need work in a NFL weight room where the long and lanky linebacker will need to improve his playing strength.  Whatever the case, this physically talented small school product will become a hot property during the second day of this year’s NFL draft.

Tom Marino, NFL Scout: OVA transfer. I liked this players athletic ability, direction change and potential as a edge pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme. Good stride length to top of the rush and bend and use of hands to alter course and finish. Active within the running game showing both range and instincts. Good wrap up tackler. Possible end in 4-3 scheme. Competition level is a concern, but this is a talented high ceiling player. Round 3-4.