Indiana University Athletics
Redding’s Patience Rewarded During IU’s Bowl Run
12/10/2015 3:34:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Devine Redding had to be patient. He didn't have much choice.
The sophomore was patient last season while getting sparse carries as the third-string running back behind All-American Tevin Coleman and senior D'Angelo Roberts. He was patient when first team All-Big Ten running back Jordan Howard transferred to Indiana in the offseason and started taking the lion's share of the snaps. All Redding could do was wait his turn and be ready when he was called.
With Howard sidelined by a knee injury, Redding's patience was rewarded the final two weeks of the regular season. He took over as the No. 1 running back in Indiana's wins against Maryland and Purdue, rushing for 274 yards and a touchdown on 46 carries.
"Just got to keep it going with coach's philosophy," Redding said. "Next guy up. Just have a love for the game, love to play."
Redding's patience is being tested in a different way now. He's getting a crash course in waiting for the right moment to burst through running lanes at the line of scrimmage.
Waiting for the hole to open can be difficult for a young running back. Every play is a balance between wanting to impress the coaching staff with a long run and not trying to run through a gap that isn't there.
That's where the patience comes in.
"I was very impatient coming in," Redding said. "I was always just fast to everything. Jordan and Coach (Deland) McCullough helped me out with everything.
Patience is the key, really. Just being patient, letting everything open up."
And once it does open?
"Hit it," Redding said. "Hit it like a shot."
Redding has been the understudy of two of the best rushers in the Big Ten in that regard.
He said Coleman, now an Atlanta Falcon, taught him the value of hitting the running lanes hard without fear. Howard is a more methodical back, teaching
Redding the importance of being patient and waiting for those gaps to open before bursting through.
"I feel like I'm more relaxed back there," Redding said. "I'm not as tense and just excited as I was. I can get back there and comfortably seek out the defense."
Fifth-year senior center Jake Reed admitted he's not quite sure how his running backs do what they do.
He said Redding's eagerness to jump in and replace Howard when he's been limited has been part of what makes Indiana's offense as strong as it is. He went on to add that even Redding has guys like freshman Mike Majette and redshirt junior Andrew Wilson waiting behind him to do the same.
"Devine's a hard worker," Reed said. "There's just a talent being able to see the holes and just kind of knowing when they're going to open up. You'll see these guys where it just looks like a wall of trouble and at the last second, they'll split and they'll find it. It's just impressive to watch."
Redding's back to work getting ready for a Pinstripe Bowl matchup in New York against Duke later this month. With Howard still recovering from his knee injury, it's still not clear to anyone how many snaps he'll wind up taking on gameday.
He's not too concerned, either. He's used to being patient by now.
"You can't feel pressure because then you're going to think too much and you're probably going to overthink things and not be able to do your job," Redding said. "I kind of just leave that out of the picture and just kind of be a team player and play to the best of my abilities."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Devine Redding had to be patient. He didn't have much choice.
The sophomore was patient last season while getting sparse carries as the third-string running back behind All-American Tevin Coleman and senior D'Angelo Roberts. He was patient when first team All-Big Ten running back Jordan Howard transferred to Indiana in the offseason and started taking the lion's share of the snaps. All Redding could do was wait his turn and be ready when he was called.
With Howard sidelined by a knee injury, Redding's patience was rewarded the final two weeks of the regular season. He took over as the No. 1 running back in Indiana's wins against Maryland and Purdue, rushing for 274 yards and a touchdown on 46 carries.
"Just got to keep it going with coach's philosophy," Redding said. "Next guy up. Just have a love for the game, love to play."
Redding's patience is being tested in a different way now. He's getting a crash course in waiting for the right moment to burst through running lanes at the line of scrimmage.
Waiting for the hole to open can be difficult for a young running back. Every play is a balance between wanting to impress the coaching staff with a long run and not trying to run through a gap that isn't there.
That's where the patience comes in.
"I was very impatient coming in," Redding said. "I was always just fast to everything. Jordan and Coach (Deland) McCullough helped me out with everything.
Patience is the key, really. Just being patient, letting everything open up."
And once it does open?
"Hit it," Redding said. "Hit it like a shot."
Redding has been the understudy of two of the best rushers in the Big Ten in that regard.
He said Coleman, now an Atlanta Falcon, taught him the value of hitting the running lanes hard without fear. Howard is a more methodical back, teaching
Redding the importance of being patient and waiting for those gaps to open before bursting through.
"I feel like I'm more relaxed back there," Redding said. "I'm not as tense and just excited as I was. I can get back there and comfortably seek out the defense."
Fifth-year senior center Jake Reed admitted he's not quite sure how his running backs do what they do.
He said Redding's eagerness to jump in and replace Howard when he's been limited has been part of what makes Indiana's offense as strong as it is. He went on to add that even Redding has guys like freshman Mike Majette and redshirt junior Andrew Wilson waiting behind him to do the same.
"Devine's a hard worker," Reed said. "There's just a talent being able to see the holes and just kind of knowing when they're going to open up. You'll see these guys where it just looks like a wall of trouble and at the last second, they'll split and they'll find it. It's just impressive to watch."
Redding's back to work getting ready for a Pinstripe Bowl matchup in New York against Duke later this month. With Howard still recovering from his knee injury, it's still not clear to anyone how many snaps he'll wind up taking on gameday.
He's not too concerned, either. He's used to being patient by now.
"You can't feel pressure because then you're going to think too much and you're probably going to overthink things and not be able to do your job," Redding said. "I kind of just leave that out of the picture and just kind of be a team player and play to the best of my abilities."
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