Ty Redmond didn’t have much time to ease into college football last season.
The Tennessee cornerback was thrusted into a starting role as a freshman. While he gained valuable experience he also endured the inevitable mistakes that come with learning on the field.
A year later, Redmond believes those experiences have prepared him for something bigger.
“I feel like it’s time for me to take that next step to be one of the, you know, best in SEC and even in the nation because I feel like I got the reps under my belt,” Redmond said Tuesday. “I had my bumps and bruises. Time to like just be that guy.”
That confidence has been accompanied by a different approach entering his sophomore season.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has praised Redmond’s increased attention to detail. For Redmond, much of that growth has happened away from the field.
“I would say more like film and like more studying like the way that Knowles is thinking so I can, you know, make plays easier and help out everybody else around me,” Redmond said.
Redmond also focused on becoming faster and stronger during the offseason, crediting Tennessee’s strength staff and director of football sports performance Derek Owings.
But perhaps the biggest change is his place within Tennessee’s secondary.
Redmond was one of the younger players in the room last season. Now, despite entering only his second year with the Vols, he’s being asked to provide leadership.
“It’s kind of different because, you know, last year I was the younger DB in the room,” Redmond said. “So I just take it as another challenge in my career and becoming a complete player.”
He’s also learning from the experience Tennessee added around him.
Redmond pointed to Auburn transfer Kayin Lee’s instincts and SEC experience as something the entire cornerback room can benefit from.
“He says stuff in the film room that he sees and we try to implement in our game,” Redmond said. “Everybody in the room try to implement because he has a lot of snaps in this league.”
The competition isn’t limited to the meeting room.
Redmond regularly matches up with Tennessee receiver Mike Matthews in practice, giving both players an opportunity to sharpen their games.
“Maybe he’ll catch one on me and I’ll, you know, get one on him,” Redmond said. “We just trying to make each other better.”
Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who was named Tennessee’s starter on Monday, has presented another challenge.
Redmond said Brandon’s ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes has forced the secondary to remain disciplined.
“He does a real good job of like baiting the corner with his eyes,” Redmond said. “So, you know, you think he’ll make a play and then he just put the ball right behind you.”
Those daily battles are helping Redmond prepare for a sophomore season carrying considerably different expectations.
Last year was about surviving the learning curve.
This year, Redmond wants to establish himself among the SEC’s best.
