IU running backs coach Deland McCullough never really looked at Devine Redding as a complementary back. Sure, the junior running back was No. 2 on the depth chart, but that was behind first team All-Big Ten Jordan Howard.
And as Howard missed nearly all of the season’s final three games, Redding took the challenge and ran with it.
He rushed for 501 yards during those three games and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark to end the season.
“I knew he’s a lead back,” McCullough said.
And now with Howard gone and Redding entertaining the idea of being the No. 1 guy in spring practice, Redding is having a little more fun. He’s smiling and joking around more.
Because now he has a chance to be next in line in the running back room that has cranked out star rushers in five seasons under McCullough.
One of the off-the-field staffers told IU Coach Kevin Wilson that Redding has matured as much as anyone on the team in terms of how he carries himself in the academic center and off the field. McCullough said Redding has become the running backs’ primary leader.
Redding said he tries to make it into practice at least an hour early to get in the hot tub or warm up. He described his leadership style as vocal, getting on guys in order to increase the intensity.
He is following the lead of several successful rushers since McCullough has taken over the group.
Stephen Houston ran for 802 and 749 yards in 2011 and 2012, respectively, despite missing time due to injuries in both seasons.
Tevin Coleman ran for 958 yards in 2013 despite missing the final three games. He ran for 2,036 yards in 2014.
Then, Howard ran for 1,213 yards last season despite being held out for four games and missing time in three others.
“I was going to have at least a thousand-yard guy a year,” McCullough said. “It really felt like under optimal circumstances, that’s what I would have had.”
Now, the running back room has more company because junior Camion Patrick has joined the group. Once described by Wilson as the best player on the team, Patrick transferred last winter from East Mississippi as a receiver and had to sit out the season for academic reasons.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, he has the potential to be a large, versatile running back with big-play ability.
“I’ve been saying for months that I wanted to get a chance for him to get in the running back room and soak up the mojo in there and learn some of the specifics and finer points of being a top-end running back,” McCullough said.
Redding said Patrick has been like Howard — who transferred to IU from University of Alabama-Birmingham — in his ability to join the group and become a part of it right away.
McCullough said he is very coachable and wants to be great. At the same time, McCullough downplayed any notion of Patrick’s creating more competition within the group.
He said there’s competition with the position in there no matter what.
Patrick doesn’t raise any antennas because everyone in the room knows the standard, McCullough said.
“Iron continues to sharpen iron in there,” he said.
As for Redding, he was the assumed next guy up before Howard came last season. Now, he is the assumed next guy up again with anticipated competition coming. But this time, people notice more confidence.
“He’s different because there’s a little quiet confidence, a demeanor about him that he feels like he is the guy,” IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. “He’s ready for his time.”
