King Grad Silas Redd Making His Mark At Penn State

Before the 2011 season, Norwalk's Silas Redd already was a contender to start at running back for the Penn State Nittany Lions' football team.

As a true freshman in 2010, the s grad earned playing time right away. He gradually worked his way into more carries as the season progressed, becoming the primary backup to then-senior Evan Royster, who is currently on the practice squad for the NFL's Washington Redskins.

Redd's number was called 77 times to run the football and he produced with 437 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes out of the backfield and was the team's primary kick returner in the season's final three games.

So Redd expected to make an impact as a sophomore, but when his main competition for the starting job - fifth-year Stephon Green - missed preseason practices for disciplinary reasons and was temporarily kicked off the team, it all but secured Redd's slot as the No. 1 guy to start the year.

Foundations laid at King Low Heywood Thomas

Still, Redd believes his time at King School with Vikings coach Dan Gouin prepared him for the type of success he already has enjoyed on the collegiate level, both on and off the field.

"King did a great job because I had a good coach who knew football," Redd said in a recent interview. "I think my schooling mentally prepared me for college because we had a college workload in private school, so we had as much of a college workload, and also having to balance in football as well.

"It prepared me for both aspects and made the transition easier when I got to college."

This season, the Nittany Lions are off to a 2-1 start heading into this  weekend's matchup with Eastern Michigan. Through three games, Redd has rushed for a team-high 255 yards and four touchdowns on 50 carries.

Redd ran for 104 yards and scored twice in the team's opening victory against Indiana State.

Learning experience

But then Penn State ran into No. 3 Alabama and its stingy defensive front. In front of a national television audience, Redd was held to 63 yards on 22 carries in a 27-11 loss. It was a quite a learning experience.

"It definitely prepared me physically and mentally for the rest of the season," Redd said. "When you get 22 carries, it can takes a toll mentally and physically, but we might get into games later in the  season where I might get that many carries and I think my body handled it pretty well. I could've played more if needed."

It isn't just the physical aspect that's hard to hurdle after a tough loss. In the big world of college football and its ravenous fans, one loss can feel like the end of a season. But Redd says he has learned over the years to keep things in perspective.

"Here at Penn State, we try to stay with a 24-hour rule," he said. "We get 24 hours to celebrate a win and 24 hours of feeling down on yourself after a loss. So once Monday hits, it's a whole new focus and a whole new mindset and we can't let what happened last week become a snowball effect.

"We're moving on. Just because we won't have an undefeated season doesn't mean we can't be Big Ten champs or even national champs." 

Other coaching help

Another coach Redd credits for his success is Penn State offensive assistant coach Galen Hall, whose main responsibility is developing the team's running backs.

"(Coach Hall) really helped me with reading defenses and noticing little things about blitz pickup and recognition of certain defense," Redd said.  "He's been a great coach in my life."

Redd and the Lions bounced back from the loss to Alabama with a 14-10 victory at Temple. Redd grinded out 86 yards on 16 carries in the win.

"My body feels good," he added. "I've been doing what I need to do as far as recovery and trying to stay healthy with stretching and icing."

Redd, who is interested in pursuing a career in advertising, appears eager to step into a leadership role for the Nittany Lions.

"I continue to be a vocal as much as I can," he said. "I understand that their are two captains in the offensive huddle, so I try not to step on their toes but when I feel I need to say something, I do."