2019 Miami Hurricanes NFL Evaluation Profile: DB Sheldrick Redwine

Serving as the last line of defense for the Hurricanes, Sheldrick Redwine was a guardian of the secondary during his four years with Miami. Noted for his physicality in run support and playmaking aptitude when it comes to forcing a turnover, Redwine excelled as a safety. Redwine’s first two seasons working as a cornerback for UM provided him with experience in various defensive coverages, a trait that should benefit him when he turns pro.

Over the last couple of seasons, Redwine, a local product of Miami Killian High School, has established himself as a prospect with enough range, power and awareness to be warranted a draft selection. Where Sheldrick Redwine falls in the draft is anyone’s guess, but it has become clear after evaluating the film that he should hear his name called in late April.

Film Watched

Miami vs Toledo (2018)

Miami vs Virginia (2018)

Miami vs Boston College (2018)

Strengths

• Great closing speed from the second level of the defense to pick up a sack against Toledo.
• Approaches each tackle with malicious intent.
• Plays with decent leverage on outside run plays.
• Good open space tackler.
• Able to cover a lot of ground from the middle of the field.
• Against UVA, he was able to drop back, check the outside receiver, plant himself and leap in front of the intended target for the interception. Stellar play that you’d want out of your safety.
• Good speed as a blitzer to get into the backfield.
• Is a great contain/backside pursuit option on defense.
• Played as a slot corner in certain situations over the course of the 2018 season.
• Against Boston College, is able to avoid the blockers on a trick play QB screen, tackling the QB in the red zone on a play that could have been a TD. Shows resilience in pursuing the play.
• Plays off his teammates well when pursuing the run.
• Comes up from his safety position to make the initial tackle or finish the play.
• Can play off man coverage or press man.

Weaknesses

• While he does put plenty of emphasis on each tackle, opponents will out leverage him, forcing Redwine into a vulnerable position.
• Angle of pursuit is worrisome. Allows runners to get the edge on him forcing a diving tackle, lessening his chance of stopping the ball carrier.
• Struggles on in-breaking routes in man coverage.
• Hesitant off of switches/combination routes.

Boom or bust: It’s a term that you often hear when it comes to the NFL Draft. A prospect with the talent and potential to be successful at the pro level. The downside is that the prospect has an equal chance of not realizing the true potential that earned them a draft selection — the latter resulting in a quiet career that is over before you get past the introduction.

Sheldrick Redwine exists somewhere between those two labels. An excellent teammate and leader for the Hurricanes, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where he can’t contribute in sub packages at the pro level. While we personally feel the upside is high for Redwine, there will be an adjustment period before he acclimates to the speed and nuance of the game. Having exceeded every challenge placed before him to this point, who are we to doubt Sheldrick Redwine?

What the Experts Have to Say

Redwine earned career highs in overall grade (81.6) and coverage grade (85.9). He also recorded 35 defensive stops in 2017 and 2018 combined.

Pro Football Focus

Redwine needs to improve his reliability as a tackler to stay on the field, but he has NFL-worthy speed and has yet to play his best football, projecting as a special teamer who can be a key part of a safety rotation.

Round Projection: 5th or 6th round

Dane Brugler — The Athletic

Originally a cornerback, Redwine was a primary starter at safety for the Hurricanes in 2017 and 2018. He has the size and athleticism to move back to corner in the NFL, but he brings positional versatility depending on where he lands. He’s at his best playing downhill, whether that’s breaking on crossing routes or leveraging runs to the boundary. Redwine will join an NFL team and earn core special teams reps to begin while offering flexibility in a defensive back group.

Round Projection — 4th round

Matt Miller — Bleacher Report

Aggressive, versatile safety who lacks consistency in coverage, but who possesses the ball skills and run support ability to challenge for a starter’s role in time. Redwine’s lapses in coverage stem more from a lack of urgency than talent and that might be correctable. In run support and as a tackler in general, he plays behind heavy pad and handles his work with an NFL level physicality. He’s better suited in split-zone or down in the box and could become a key cog of the special teams until he gets his shot to start.

Round Projection: 4th or 5th round

Lance Zierlein — NFL.com

Redwine’s run defense, blitzing ability and athletic traits suggest starting ability in the NFL, but it remains to be seen if he will ever become a more instinctive player in coverage. He doesn’t give you much on the back end of a defense, but he is generally reliable and is certainly an asset in the run game. At the very least, Redwine will be a special teams stud and valuable reserve in a league using three safeties on the field at once more than ever before.

Round Grade: Late 3rd round

Jon Ledyard — The Draft Network

IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT THE U!