Triple threat

Sporting News, The, August 23, 1999 by Scott Bordow

Arizona State's J.R. REDMOND has the tools to be All-Pac-10 at running back, receiver and punt returner ... and he's not too bad on the other side of the ball, either

The first day of spring practice had just begun for Arizona State when tight end Kendrick Bates went over the middle and was drilled by the free safety.

Dazed and confused, Bates stumbled back toward the huddle, where he took a knee and tried to come to his senses.

"You probably could have killed him if you didn't let up," a teammate said to the free safety.

J.R. Redmond just smiled.

"I want to be a free safety," Redmond says. "Put me back there, let me roam around the field and cause havoc."

It's an enticing thought for Arizona State coach Bruce Snyder but one he must dismiss. Redmond is valuable to the Sun Devils in so many ways that if he ever got hurt playing defense, "it sure wouldn't be fair to the team," Snyder says. "In fact, part of me says it would be real stupid."

Redmond, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior, is among the most versatile players in the country. He rushed for a team-high 883 yards last year despite a lingering ankle injury, caught 22 passes for 194 yards and was first in the Pac-10 in punt returns (a 13.7-yard average). His 155.8 all-purpose yards per game led the conference and ranked 13th nationally.

Oh yeah, he also played a handful of downs in the secondary and cut his teammates' hair.

"He thinks he's great at everything," Snyder says. "And he may be right. He could have been a starting wide receiver and a starting safety and been All-Pac-10 in all of them, maybe All-American."

It's not an empty boast.

"J.R. Redmond is just scary with the ball," says Arizona coach Dick Tomey.

Redmond always has been more than just a running back. He played seven positions--quarterback, running back, wide receiver, kicker, linebacker, cornerback and safety--at Carson (Calif.) High School.

"I think college is the first place I haven't played both ways since I started football when I was 8 years old," Redmond says.

Snyder wasn't sure what position Redmond would play at ASU. The defensive coaches wanted him at safety, Redmond's first love. But it took only one look at Redmond the running back to sway Snyder.

"I said, `That's it. I know what I'm looking at,'" Snyder says.

Redmond started his sophomore season, but it wasn't until last year that he became one of those players who makes opposing coaches shudder every time he touches the ball.

In the season-opening 42-38 loss to Washington, Redmond rushed 15 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns, caught four passes for 68 yards and had a 61-yard punt return.

He set a school record with 350 all-purpose yards in ASU's 35-24 loss to USC. Redmond carried the ball 33 times for 214 yards, caught a team-high six passes and returned a kickoff 39 yards.

"He's one of the most difficult players to defend because he has so many things going for him," Washington State coach Mike Price says. "He's fast, strong and smart. You can try to do a million things to defend him, but he always seems to find a hole."

The problem for Snyder is not getting Redmond on the field but keeping him off it. Ask Redmond and he'll tell you he'd like to run the ball 20 times a game, catch a half-dozen passes, return punts and play safety.

"I like to think of myself as a football player, not necessarily a running back," Redmond says. "I think I'm more well-rounded than some players. I definitely pride myself on that. I always wanted to be the guy that if something isn't right, put the pressure on my shoulders."

Snyder will do that this season, to a degree. Redmond will get his 20 to 25 carries a game, be used as a slot receiver in some formations and return punts.

But Snyder, mindful that Redmond missed one game and parts of two others last year because of ankle and toe injuries, wants to be selective.

"The thing I want to be able to do every Saturday is be able to hand him the ball," Snyder says. "Whatever else we do is a bonus. I don't like him out of the game, but we're going to have to be creative. He wants to do everything."

Redmond likely will be drafted as a running back, but some NFL scouts project that he'll wind up at safety.

Snyder doesn't know what Redmond will become, but he knows what he has been--the most versatile athlete he has coached since Bobby Moore (now Ahmad Rashad) at Oregon in the early '70s.

"We're going to look back and say he's one of the best players we've ever had at ASU," Snyder says. "He's that good."

Ultimate Weapon

J.R. Redmond, Arizona State, Sr.

Coming off an injury-marred season, Redmond will display his wares as a running back, receiver, return man and cornerback.

Vision: In the open field or traffic, Redmond identifies trouble and reacts.

Arms: Keeps defenders at bay with a powerful straight arm.

Hands: Punt, pass or pitch, he grabs them all.

Legs: They provide power to his strong stride.

Feet: Ability to change direction, provides big-play ability.

Intelligence: Knows how to exploit an overmatched defender.

Fab Five

1. J.R. Redmond, 6-0/215, Sr., Arizona State