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Washington football: Can Redman start in 2020?

By Roman Tomashoff

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Chris Petersen (C) of the Washington Huskies celebrates with his team after defeating the Boise State Broncos 38-7 in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Chris Petersen (C) of the Washington Huskies celebrates with his team after defeating the Boise State Broncos 38-7 in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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Washington football has a long history of using their tight ends, and is this true freshman their next big star at the position?

Over the last decade, Washington football has become one of the premier schools for developing tight ends, placing five tight ends in the NFL over the last 10 years (this is before the 2020 NFL Draft where Hunter Bryant will more than likely become the sixth). Cade Otton and Devin Culp are two exciting options who will probably in line to take the majority of snaps in the upcoming season, but with the amount of multiple tight end sets the Huskies use, a third tight end will rotate through the lineup a lot.

The most intriguing option at the position is true freshman Mark Redman out of Corona Del Mar (Calif.) High School. The 6’6, 240 pounder has the body type that’ll be physically ready to compete from day one to go with elite pass-catching skills and incredible athleticism. There’s usually a huge learning curve when it comes to blocking at the college level, but with his size and natural power, along with proficiency that he displayed in high school as a run blocker, Redman has the skill set to end up like George Kittle.

Unlike Kittle, if new tight ends coach Derham Cato and the rest of the offensive staff can get the most out of Redman during his time at Washington, don’t be surprised if Redman ends up as a first-round draft pick. His combination of size, speed, and strength is a matchup nightmare for cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers alike, and with the emphasis the NFL has been putting on complete tight ends, Redman has what it takes to be one of the best at the college, and eventually, professional level.

When you look at the best tight ends the Huskies have had over the last decade, Redman has the physical ability to end up being the best of the bunch. Strictly from a physical standpoint, his best Husky comp is Austin Sefariain-Jenkins, the school’s only winner of the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s best tight end. With a strong summer camp (if it were to take place that is), there’s a good chance Redman displays the traits to overtake senior Jacob Kizer on the depth chart.

It’s hard to project where he might fit in on that depth chart at the moment with no spring practices to gauge where Kizer and redshirt sophomore Jack Westover might be in their development. To go along with that, summer camp is a giant unknown at this point, but Husky fans should be over the moon about Redman, who’s going to be a matchup nightmare during his time in purple and gold, and if he earns a decent amount of playing time during his freshman campaign, should be considered for a spot on a Freshman All-American team.

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