ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
NORTH CAROLINA STATE cornerback Rodney Redd, a Magna Vista alumnus, almost attended the University of Virginia.
Although he has never played in a football game at Scott Stadium, Rodney Redd will find the surroundings a little familiar Saturday when North Carolina State visits Virginia.
Redd occasionally went to games at UVa during the late 1980s, in the days before he became a standout at Magna Vista High School.
``My family and [ex-Virginia quarterback] Shawn Moore's family were real good friends,'' said Redd, whose home is in Spencer. ``My mother and his mother were in the same graduating class at the old Carver High School.
``Plus, my brother, Ronald Price, went to school [at Virginia] and roomed with Shawn for a while. So, I've got a lot of ties to UVa. I didn't really see myself as a college player at that point, but I'm sure there were times when I thought about going there.''
As it turned out, the Cavaliers were one of Redd's final two choices, but the Wolfpack had been recruiting him as long as anybody and were rewarded for their loyalty.
``The way I figured, I couldn't go wrong either place,'' Redd said.
Virginia assistant Danny Wilmer confirmed the Cavaliers' interest.
``What happened was, we sent [secondary coach] Art [Markos] down there to see Magna Vista in the playoffs,'' Wilmer said. ``But, Rodney had injured his ankle and you couldn't tell much.
``I really liked Rodney and we've had good relations with his coach, Don Bateman. Plus, Rodney was a good student. But, he sort of got lost in the shuffle and, by the time we decided to offer him, it was too late.''
Redd certainly has no complaints about his experience at State, where he became a starter late last season and remains a regular midway through his sophomore year.
``I had no idea I would have this big a role so early in my career,'' said Redd, who was primarily an offensive player at Magna Vista, where he passed for 11 touchdowns in 1993 in leading the Warriors to a 10-1 record and the Region III semifinals.
When he played on defense, most of Redd's time came at safety, but he was moved to cornerback during his freshman year at State in 1994.
``That was really my decision,'' he said. ``They told me I could have a shot at quarterback, but I knew my best chance for playing time was in the secondary.''
Redd plays the ``boundary'' corner, which requires more run support than the other cornerback spot. That was a role for which Redd was not necessarily suited upon his arrival, when he stood 5 feet 10 and weighed 168 pounds.
``It wasn't really that big a deal,'' said Redd, now measured at 5-11 and 185 pounds, down from close to 200. ``The strength coach says I have unusual strength for a player my size.''
Redd set a weightlifting record for Wolfpack defensive backs when he did 21 repetitions at 225 pounds. He has 18 solo tackles on a team for which the leader has 22.
``Rodney is playing very, very well for us,'' N.C. State coach Mike O'Cain said. ``He's very smart. He's not the fastest guy out there playing, but his intelligence [and] the way he plays makes up for a lot. He's an epitome of our defensive football team.''
State began the season 0-3, including a 42-21 loss at Purdue that was the Wolfpack's 11th defeat in 13 games dating back to last season.
``I think that was our `had-it-up-to-here' game,'' Redd said. ``We certainly have the talent. That wasn't the question. But a lot of people had to step forward and step forward fast.''
The Wolfpack responded with a 34-8 victory over favored Maryland, then played No.8 Alabama to the wire last week before losing 24-19. State outgained the Crimson Tide 418-353.
``We had our chances to win and we had to be disappointed by that,'' Redd said, ``but there were a lot of positive things to come out of that game.''
Now, it's on to Charlottesville, where the Wolfpack upset then-No.13 Virginia 30-27 in 1994. Redd was at home that day, but he was on the field at Carter-Finley Stadium last year, when the Cavaliers scored with 13 seconds left and won 29-24.
``I hurt really bad after that game,'' Redd said. ``I wouldn't want to say we owe them one because the whole series has been like this, but we haven't forgotten that sour taste in our mouths.''
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Reddby CNB