Second and third-year players ready to break out in 2018

Haason Reddick

Not sure how likely it is to find a list with consecutive Temple Owls. Reddick started the first three games of the season, but came off the bench in different situations and played a variety of roles in James Bettcher’s hybrid defense for the rest of the year.

He played inside linebacker for the most part, but he got a shot at rushing the passer late in the season due to Markus Golden getting hurt. In just 46 pass-rushing snaps, he came up with three quarterback hurries and one more hit.

The former safety recruit and then standout defensive end showed high football IQ and an ability to adapt to different circumstances. I’m excited by what I saw from him covering curl-zones and attacking underneath routes. Steve Wilks bringing that 4-3 front over from Carolina, Reddick will likely play WILL linebacker, where he can run around freely and use his speed.

The Panthers blitzed at a high rate for their standards in 2017, so expect the second-year man to put some heat on quarterbacks as well as covering backs and tight-ends one-on-one. I could also see the Cardinals let Reddick put his hand in the ground and get after QBs on third downs.