UNC Football: Scouting Report Kevin Reddick, ILB, North Carolina

For our scouting report series on Tar Heel NFL hopefuls for the 2012 and 2013 Draft.  We’ve teamed up with NFLMock.com the networks experts on everything surrounding the NFL Draft.  Keeping It Heel would like to thank Sayre Bedinger, Jesse Bartolis the lead editors at NFLMock.com  for generously offering to share their UNC reviews with Tar Heel nation.  And of course the entire staff at NFLMock.com for sharing their hard work.  Check out NFLMock.comfor expert analysis of all the top NFL prospects. In our third edition today, we’re featuring Inside Linebacker Kevin Reddick who will be back with the Heels next season and is a 2013 NFL Draft hopeful.  For the first edition 0n WR Dwight Jones click HERE for part two on DE Quinton Coples click HERE and for part three on DT Tydreke Powell click HERE

Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

This is our Kevin Reddick Scouting report. Reddick is another in a long line of talented North Carolina defenders. Reddick and the Tar Heels linebackers are like bees, they are fast, and buzzing around the field.

This scouting report was written by Jesse Bartolis

For all of our other scouting reports go to our scouting report page

Measurables

6’3 240 pounds

(combine numbers to be posted when they become available)

4.6 40 yard dash projection

Stats (check out CFBstats.com)

2011:

2010:

Pros

I always try to start with the players best asset and for Reddick that is his sideline to sideline speed…Plus in coverage…good pursuit and hustle…physical player…Instinctive…really attacks the line of scrimmage…good wrap up tackler…can play in traffic because he fights his way through and make plays on the football…deflects a lot of passes, could intercept more though…hard to block in space…around the football lot…added strength and size during the off-season

Cons

Sometimes he overpusues and loses his gap integrity……Plus in pass coverage because of his speed and instincts, but he could work on his drops…not a great blitzer, or punishing tackler…even though he fights through traffic, he can have trouble disengaging from blocks…misses a few open field tackles…

Round Projection

Very late first round or any point during the second round

Thoughts:

There is a lot to like about Reddick, he’s an instinctive linebacker who has good size and plays physical. He does a real good job of making plays when he’s in pass coverage. He gets his hands on a lot of passes. He’s also always around the football, he has the ability to play side line to sideline and is a good form tackler. He attacks the line of scrimmage and makes plays in the run game as well, he still could stand to get stronger if he’s going to play in the middle because he can struggle to disengage from blocks at times and sometimes he seems to be a little bit out of position.

All in all I’ve been impressed with Reddick and think he’s clearly one of the best inside linebacker prospects in this draft class. He’s a three down linebacker at the N.F.L. level and that’s hard to find in this day and age.

NFLmocks preseason bio

Speedy linebacker who has been a key contributor from the moment he stepped on campus for the Heels. Had 74 tackles, a sack, two interceptions, and a touchdown last year following up a stellar freshman campaign where he had 45 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and a pass break up on his way to being named to the All-ACC Freshman team, and received a vote as the ACC Freshman of the Year. Has a chance to be one of the top linebackers in the country if he continues to improve over the next year like he did from his freshman to sophomore year. Fast, physical linebacker who has a ton of upside. North Carolina always seems to recruit guys with a ton of speed, and this guy has shown that he can also bring it on the field. Led the team in tackles as a sophomore despite a star-studded cast for the Tar Heels at the linebacker position.

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