As told to Caroline Deisley, USC blog contributor, by former USC RB Silas Redd (2012-13)
Just as I was ready and anxious before rookie camp, I was nervous to begin training camp. The Redskins were pretty deep at the running back position so I was competing and learning from people like Alfred Morris who had the top spot on the depth chart locked up. I had played one season with his backup, Evan Royster, when I was a freshman at Penn State so I knew his capabilities and then there was also Roy Helu Jr. On top of all that talent, I was going up against rookie Lache Seastrunk, so yet again I was faced with this major obstacle where I had to fight for a chance to prove myself.
Former USC running back Silas Redd wrapped up an impressive NFL rookie season last December, overcoming injuries in his senior year at USC to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins and earn his spot on the team's depth chart. A year ago, Redd was unsure of what his future held as he worked every day to prove himself through rookie training camps and ultimately in front of the entire Redskins organization at OTAs. As this year's class of Trojans enter their first NFL training camps with the hope of taking their game to the next level, Redd looks back and provides a window into what the journey to the league looks like from a player's perspective.
The last installment of this series focuses on the period of time from signing as an undrafted free agent to making the final 53-man roster for the 2014 Washington Redskins.
Undrafted: May 8-10, 2014
Everyone always builds up what they do on draft day. I remember just wanting to spend it with my close family and friends in my home. We had a small group of people over and just cooked and ate and waited. The worst part was waiting. I was so anxious, so nervous just because I was pretty unsure of where I was going to end up and if I was going to end up anywhere. I knew my knee was a concern and what ultimately led to me not being drafted, but I had had some good meetings with teams leading up to the draft and I thought I could go in one of the later rounds. Then, I received a call from Randy Jordan (the Redskins running backs coach) around the fifth or sixth round saying they were interested in me. I knew I still had a long road ahead of me if I wanted to make the roster but I just had faith in myself. I just shared the moment with my family and started looking at the challenges that lay ahead.
First Impressions: May 15-17, 2014
I was really anxious to get to rookie camp just because I had missed the game so much. After being hurt, I was just so ready to get back out there and compete again. The whole rookie camp process is a three-day process. I had a lot of fun and more importantly, I really thought I practiced well so it gave me some confidence heading into the rest of summer workouts and OTAs. Leading up to camp, I was out in Los Angeles at the Athletic Performance Institute in Carson where I worked out before, and I really believe that they helped me get to the level I needed to be at to perform as well as I did. The thing that kept me going and that's always kept me going throughout this whole process is my family. The love and support I receive from them just gives me motivation to work that much harder despite any obstacle that I may encounter. My son is really what gave me the strength needed to grind and work like I did.
Earning A Spot: July 24-August 28, 2014
The biggest difference I noticed once OTAs started was that I was expected to know the game of football and know what I was supposed to be doing at all times. They knew I was a rookie but at the same time they wanted to see how fast I learned, comprehended and could think. This is where I felt like it was the time to show them that I could handle the workload as far as the schemes and different plays. It was tough coming in as an undrafted free agent because that already puts me behind some of the other talent on the field, but I just took advantage of the opportunities that were given to me.
There's a saying that you don't count the reps, you make the reps count so that's what I tried to do whenever I got my chance. I really relied on the leadership from Bradford Banta, who actually played TE at USC and is the assistant special teams coach for the Redskins. He worked with me every step of the way developing my skills as a special teams player because that's really how I made the team. I had never really done special teams, especially tackling, so I worked closely with him to get my skills to the necessary level to earn a spot.
The Final Cut: August 30, 2014
I'll never forget the day that I made the 53-man roster. There had been two cuts prior to that day and each cut I remember being so anxious because despite leaving everything out there on the field you just never know what the coaches are thinking. When you walk into our building you go through the front doors and go downstairs to the locker room, but for some guys they stop you to tell you that you didn't make the cut. It was so nerve-racking walking into the building but I just kept walking almost waiting for someone to say my name but no one ever did so I just kept walking - that was the moment when I realized I had made it and had survived the first step necessary to accomplish my dream of playing in the NFL. The first thing I did was immediately call my mom to share the news with someone who had been with me supporting me every step of the way.
Living The Dream: 2014-15 season
My first NFL game was such an amazing experience even though I think I only got in the game one time. The whole atmosphere of an NFL stadium and being there with my new teammates in my new uniform was just an unreal feeling. My family's only four hours away so they came to pretty much every home game which just elevated the experience that much more to be able to live out my dream in front of my support system.
After my rookie season, I've seen my role grow even more and now that we've got new guys coming in I plan on leading by example. I'm not a very vocal guy and I'm still one of the young guys out here but I want to show these guys how to be a pro and whatever else I can to help them. Looking ahead to next season, Alfred Morris is still the obvious starter but the coaching staff is expecting a lot more from me. They need someone to be able to relieve him who knows how to protect our quarterback and give them an option on third downs as well as continuing my role on special teams. I don't feel like I'm at the bottom of the totem pole anymore, but I still think of myself on the lower half. I'm still just as motivated to improve. I've been working on route running, pass catching and I've beefed up a little bit just to give the team some more options in terms of how they want to use me on the field. Looking back now, the hardest part of my journey was honestly starting from the bottom - as cliche as that sounds. When I didn't get drafted, I realized that the odds really were against me, but if you stay mentally tough, do what you are supposed to do and stay healthy, then the sky is the limit. Luckily enough, I've made something happen with the opportunities that have been given to me.
