Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Redd Understands the Importance of the Turnover
11/3/2021 8:41:00 AM | Football, Les Johns
“I want to accomplish the goals I’d set for myself personally coming into Wake Forest. I still have a lot more I want to accomplish.” - Traveon Redd
With both offenses putting up video game-like numbers, Army lining up for a mid-third quarter 44-yard field goal attempt didn't pass the smell test. The Wake Forest staff was yelling "fake" before the snap, with Army eventually going without a holder for the play that was supposed to be disguised as a field goal.
Yet the Black Knights still had an open target on the left sideline, until sixth-year senior safety Traveon Redd sniffed it out, making up a ton of ground while the ball was in the air to pick it off and race 83 yards the opposite direction for a game-changing touchdown.
"That was my first time being in the end zone," Redd said after the game. "I've been here six years and that was my first touchdown. I was low-key emotional. I wasn't crying, but just really happy. But we still had a long game to go. I know possessions count, and being able to score on the defensive side of the ball could be the deciding factor in the game.
"I was hoping I was going to make it to the end zone. I was already getting kind of winded. After that play, I was gassed. I saw green gas and I just took it. I was just making a beeline for the end zone."
Redd never really considered attacking the potential receiver, instead trusting his instincts and ball skills to make the play.
"I saw the ball," he said. "I didn't even even see the receiver. I saw the ball in the air and I went for it.
"I saw out of the corner of my eye. I can't even really explain the play, because I let my own man go. I was in the right position at the right time. I'm just glad I made the play."
It was the fifth turnover caused by Redd this season — three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He added again to his total on Saturday with a fumble recovery, making it the fourth consecutive game he has had a forced fumble, fumble recovery or interception.
Wake Forest is plus-10 in turnover margin this season, one of the many reasons they have started the season 8-0 for just the second time in program history.
"Turnovers are gold here," Redd said. "We value turnovers so much and we work on it every day. It becomes an instinct now, anytime we get the opportunity to strip the ball. We don't even think about it anymore. When the opportunity presents itself, we just capitalize on it.
"It's just repetition. You just do it without thinking. Sometimes you make a tackle and then realize you've stripped the ball. You go in to make the tackle and notice you've punched it. It's a habit."
As Redd explained his decision to return to Wake Forest for a super-senior season earlier this year, he talked about goals that are seemingly coming to fruition — despite his ambiguity.
"I need to continue to excel in my game and continue to make this team better," Redd said in the spring. "I want to accomplish the goals I'd set for myself personally coming into Wake Forest. I still have a lot more I want to accomplish.
He deferred then, and continues to defer now when asked about his specific goals.
"I'm going to allow you all to see it on the field," Redd said in the spring.
"I'm working on something," he said in mid-October. "You can kind of see with the plays I'm making. Just know I'm working on something."
It's the consistent performance this season from Redd that has excited Wake Forest defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill.
"He's steady," Hemphill said. "He's probably the most consistent player we have, just game-to-game and day-to-day. He's the most consistent performer. You know what you're getting every week. Dependability is everything."
Redd is second on the team with 36 tackles, and also has a pair of quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks so far this season.
"Traveon is one of those guys, who I doubt will ever need heart medication or anything like that," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "He's just steady in the boat. He has a lot of football instincts and intangibles. He's a tough, instinctive football player and one of our best tackles. He understands angles.
"He just has a knack for making plays. What we're doing defensively right now is putting him in a position to make more plays. We've kind of moved him from the rover out in space to the free safety. He gets a chance to contact the ball and the ball carrier a lot more. Because of where we're playing him, he has a better opportunity to be the second man in. He's a smart football player. He's been here six years, and is going against some younger running backs and receivers. You feel good about him being savvy and finding a way to get it out."
He's been a big part of the historic start to the season for the Demon Deacons, but isn't getting too caught up in the hype.
"We're proud of ourselves and what we've accomplished so far, but we're taking it one week at a time," Redd said. "It's a one-week season. We're not trying to get too deep into the record right now. We have a long season to go, but we are proud of what we've accomplished."
Yet the Black Knights still had an open target on the left sideline, until sixth-year senior safety Traveon Redd sniffed it out, making up a ton of ground while the ball was in the air to pick it off and race 83 yards the opposite direction for a game-changing touchdown.
"That was my first time being in the end zone," Redd said after the game. "I've been here six years and that was my first touchdown. I was low-key emotional. I wasn't crying, but just really happy. But we still had a long game to go. I know possessions count, and being able to score on the defensive side of the ball could be the deciding factor in the game.
"I was hoping I was going to make it to the end zone. I was already getting kind of winded. After that play, I was gassed. I saw green gas and I just took it. I was just making a beeline for the end zone."
Redd never really considered attacking the potential receiver, instead trusting his instincts and ball skills to make the play.
"I saw the ball," he said. "I didn't even even see the receiver. I saw the ball in the air and I went for it.
"I saw out of the corner of my eye. I can't even really explain the play, because I let my own man go. I was in the right position at the right time. I'm just glad I made the play."
It was the fifth turnover caused by Redd this season — three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He added again to his total on Saturday with a fumble recovery, making it the fourth consecutive game he has had a forced fumble, fumble recovery or interception.
Wake Forest is plus-10 in turnover margin this season, one of the many reasons they have started the season 8-0 for just the second time in program history.
"Turnovers are gold here," Redd said. "We value turnovers so much and we work on it every day. It becomes an instinct now, anytime we get the opportunity to strip the ball. We don't even think about it anymore. When the opportunity presents itself, we just capitalize on it.
"It's just repetition. You just do it without thinking. Sometimes you make a tackle and then realize you've stripped the ball. You go in to make the tackle and notice you've punched it. It's a habit."
As Redd explained his decision to return to Wake Forest for a super-senior season earlier this year, he talked about goals that are seemingly coming to fruition — despite his ambiguity.
"I need to continue to excel in my game and continue to make this team better," Redd said in the spring. "I want to accomplish the goals I'd set for myself personally coming into Wake Forest. I still have a lot more I want to accomplish.
He deferred then, and continues to defer now when asked about his specific goals.
"I'm going to allow you all to see it on the field," Redd said in the spring.
"I'm working on something," he said in mid-October. "You can kind of see with the plays I'm making. Just know I'm working on something."
It's the consistent performance this season from Redd that has excited Wake Forest defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill.
"He's steady," Hemphill said. "He's probably the most consistent player we have, just game-to-game and day-to-day. He's the most consistent performer. You know what you're getting every week. Dependability is everything."
Redd is second on the team with 36 tackles, and also has a pair of quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks so far this season.
"Traveon is one of those guys, who I doubt will ever need heart medication or anything like that," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "He's just steady in the boat. He has a lot of football instincts and intangibles. He's a tough, instinctive football player and one of our best tackles. He understands angles.
"He just has a knack for making plays. What we're doing defensively right now is putting him in a position to make more plays. We've kind of moved him from the rover out in space to the free safety. He gets a chance to contact the ball and the ball carrier a lot more. Because of where we're playing him, he has a better opportunity to be the second man in. He's a smart football player. He's been here six years, and is going against some younger running backs and receivers. You feel good about him being savvy and finding a way to get it out."
He's been a big part of the historic start to the season for the Demon Deacons, but isn't getting too caught up in the hype.
"We're proud of ourselves and what we've accomplished so far, but we're taking it one week at a time," Redd said. "It's a one-week season. We're not trying to get too deep into the record right now. We have a long season to go, but we are proud of what we've accomplished."
Players Mentioned
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