Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Redwine stepping up at safety for ’Canes
CORAL GABLES – When Manny Diaz got his first look at Miami’s schedule, he knew some changes would have to be made.
With games at both Arkansas State and Florida State early, the Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator had some worries about how his safeties unit — one that would be in transition after the losses of Jamal Carter and Rayshawn Jenkins — would handle the challenge of playing two solid opponents on the road.
So, Diaz went to one of his returning cornerbacks and asked him how he’d feel about the possibility of switching over to safety in an effort to give the Hurricanes some experience at a position of need.
The response was exactly what Diaz — or any coach for that matter — would want to hear.
“Whatever they need me to do, if they want to put me at D-line, I’ll play D-line,” Redwine said with a smile on Thursday after one of Miami’s 15 spring workouts. “I won’t downgrade my talent and say I can just do this. Wherever they want to put me, that’s what I’m going to try to do and be the best at.”
Through five of the Hurricanes’ spring workouts, by all accounts, Redwine’s move seems to be working out as Diaz and the rest of Miami’s defensive coaches could have hoped. The junior has shown the same kind of speed, athleticism and hard-hitting tackling Diaz saw when watching film of Redwine last season.
The newly minted safety had 28 tackles last season, appearing in 12 games and starting five.
Part of what has made the transition easier in the early going is the fact that Redwine not only played a little bit of safety in high school at Miami Killian, but that he’s now lining up at his new position with a familiar face: former high school teammate and current roommate Jaquan Johnson.
The two spent plenty of time ahead of spring workouts going through Miami’s playbook together, with Johnson working to teach Redwine what coaches will expect of him at his new position. And the pair has also gotten advice from Carter and Jenkins, who remain a presence on campus ahead of the NFL draft.
“He’s picked up the defense real well. That’s my roommate, so we’ve been working on the playbook since they made the transition to safety,” said Johnson, who had 38 tackles, an interception, a sack and a fumble recovery last season. “He’s doing good. He’s catching on quick and he’s a veteran, too. He was at cornerback so the defense has been coming real easy to him.”
Along with Redwine and Johnson, the Hurricanes will also have highly touted freshman Amari Carter of Palm Beach Gardens at safety next season. Redshirt sophomore Robert Knowles and sophomore Romeo Finley will be there too. There’s talent at the position, Diaz and safeties coach Ephraim Banda believe. But few of those young players have the kind of experience Jamal Carter and Jenkins provided, and that’s what he’s hoping Redwine provides not just on the field, but in the meeting rooms beyond it. So far, so good. “Sheldrick has embraced it. I’m really proud of him,” Banda said.
While Miami’s trio of sophomore linebackers Shaq Quarterman, Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud were solid contributors last season, Diaz said Thursday he’d like to see them continue improving and building on the success they had as freshman.
One thing in particular the defensive coordinator wants from Quarterman — a freshman All-American — in particular? A little more production.
“There’s a lot of things Shaq and all three of the linebackers that played a lot last year can improve on,” Diaz said. “One is the overall consistency and understanding where they’re supposed to be in our run fits. We talked about Shaq in terms of being productive. There were times last year where there was some things where some hesitation cost him a chance to be involved in the tackle, where he was around a lot of plays but maybe not making all the plays. I think he’s in a situation now where he’s seen the film of that and understands his productivity level can go where up from where it was a year ago.”
Miami has had plenty of success recruiting Palm Beach County in recent seasons, landing the likes of Carter and defensive end Jonathan Garvin of Lake Worth in this most recent cycle.
On Thursday, both of their position coaches said the two are transitioning well and learning Miami’s system. If that continues as expected, the two could see significant playing time this fall.
“I’m very proud of him. Anytime you can get the Palm Beach County Defensive Player of the Year in your program and lay another pipe into that pipeline, you’re really happy,” Banda said of Carter. “He probably right now should be in lunch somewhere or P.E. at Palm Beach Gardens. He’s learning how to practice hard, how to play hard on a daily basis. He’s a tough kid that comes from a great program and I’m proud of him and the progress he’s made.”