TAMPA, Fla. – Max Redfield hasn’t had the opportunity to make too many flashy plays this week in preparation for today’s Under Armour All-America Game at Tropicana Field, but the California safety has proved to be extremely solid.
“He’s very versatile,” Team Nitro defensive backs coach Terrance Larmond said. ”He plays well at free safety in space and also big enough and physical enough to step down in the box and play the strong safety/nickel spot for us. He sets the edge well, runs well to the ball, plays the alleys good.
“He does all of the things you want to see in a big-time safety.”
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Redfield will make his college announcement live on ESPN during today’s game, which starts at 5 p.m. (EST). He’ll be choosing between Notre Dame and USC, a school to which he was once committed.
Like all high school prospects, Redfield still needs to work on parts of his game, but the Mission Viejo High School (Mission Viejo, Calif.) star will have the opportunity to do that at the next level.
“His man-to-man coverage; playing versus slot receivers and things like that,” Larmond said when asked what areas Redfield has the most room for improvement. “They’re just small, technical things that they’ll definitely clean up for him once he’s in school.”
Several people have wondered if wide receiver might actually be Redfield’s best position. Larmond thinks Redfield could probably play wideout, but definitely has the toughness for defense.
“He’s got good ball skills, but he’s physical,” Larmond said. “He tackles. I don’t see anything that would stop him from playing defense. I don’t see him being timid, soft or anything like that.”
Larmond has been impressed with Redfield’s maturity leading up to today’s game.
“He’s been very respectful all week,” the coach said. “He’s a yes-sir, no-sir type of kid.”
Redfield will start for Team Nitro today and whatever school Redfield selects, Larmond believes he’d fit in nicely.
“I think he’d be fine anywhere,” Larmond said. “He’s scheme-versatile, like I said. If you need him to play in the box, he has the size and physical stature to be able to do it. Being able to play free, he does a good job of reading the quarterback’s shoulders and eyes and adjusts to the ball in the air.”