Defensive End
Cory Redding
College: Texas
Year: Senior
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 279
Birthday: November 15, 1980
Strengths: A highly-touted linebacker in high school, Cory Redding has a Julius Peppers-like vibe about him entering the 2002 season, making him one of this year’s most exciting prospects.
Redding’s an athletic, playmaking defensive end who relentlessly pursues the football all over the field. He’s strong enough to stuff the run and fast enough to chase down quarterbacks. He’s agile, too; last year, against Peppers’ Tar Heels no less, Redding dropped into pass coverage, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
He and Kalen Thornton will anchor a semi-rebuilding defense expected to challenge for a national championship. More than just the eyes of Texas will be on Redding to see if he can harness his enormous potential.
Areas for Concern: Scouts agree that Redding has all the necessary tools to be a dominating defensive end, and that, at times, he’s shown flashes of brilliance… but he’s yet to really put it all together with any kind of consistency, and that’s a big concern.
Since coming to Austin in 1999, he’s been practicing on a daily basis against the likes of Leonard Davis and Mike Williams, and in the Big 12, of course, he’s faced off against some of the bigger offensive lines in football, so why is he still so raw and unrefined? Why does he have trouble shedding blockers? Why does he have trouble moving along the line of scrimmage and keeping up with the play?
Redding is going to need a big year to dispel any notion that’s he’s big on hype, small on bang; heck, with Thornton pushing him, he’s going to need a big year just to prove he’s the best defensive lineman on the team.
How Would He Look in Steel Blue? Pretty spiffy. Redding actually grew up in Houston, playing — excelling, really — at North Shore High School. So a return home would make for a great story, and, of course, it helps that he’s got loads of talent.
Redding has prototypical NFL size, but needs a breakout season to prove he’s more than just a mound of untapped potential.
(profile written by Ric Sweeney
)
Cory Redding’s 2001 Stats G TCK TFL SKS FF FR INT 12 52 11 4.5 0 0 1
Cory Redding 
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Click on a player’s name to preview other top DE prospects:
>> Greg Gathers
>> Jerome McDougle
>> Cory Redding
>> Terrell Suggs
>> Dewayne White
