Victor Redmond Is Quietly Leading the League in Passing

Victor Redmond does not say much in the locker room after games. He answers questions, thanks the offensive line, and heads for the exit. That is part of why it can be easy to miss what the Salt Lake Summit quarterback has done this season.

Through 11 games, Redmond leads the National Gridiron League in passing yards with 2,774. He has thrown 24 touchdown passes along the way. Spread over 11 games, that works out to roughly 252 passing yards each time out.

A steady hand

Redmond wears No. 8 for the Summit, and the number has come to mean consistency. In Week 10, he threw for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 44-16 win at Austin. A week later at Hartford, he threw for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 31-26 victory. Neither game was flashy by itself, but the totals add up.

Salt Lake finished 7-4 and second in the West Conference. Much of that success runs through the passing game, and Redmond is the one who sets the pace.

"Victor is not a guy who will give you a speech," Summit coach Gil Arnaud said. "But when the ball is snapped he knows where it should go. That is a rare thing, and it is why he leads the league."

Arnaud said the quarterback's preparation is what sets him apart. "He is first in the building and last to leave. He studies his reads, he asks questions, and he trusts the guys around him."

The people around him

Redmond is quick to share credit. Wide receiver Brandon Young caught passes for 65 yards against Austin and 88 yards, plus a touchdown, against Hartford. Running back Miles Tatum scored three rushing touchdowns in the Austin game and added another score at Hartford. Those players take pressure off the quarterback, and Redmond knows it.

"The line gives me time and the receivers get open," Redmond said. "My job is to make good decisions and put the ball where it needs to be. The numbers are a result of the team."

That humility may be a good fit for a team that has leaned on balance. The Summit's defense also gave Redmond help in Hartford, recording 6 sacks and keeping the Sentinels' offense off balance.

What the numbers say

A quarterback leading the league in passing yards is not always a sign of a team with a great record. Sometimes it means a team is playing from behind. In Redmond's case, the Summit are winning, and the passing numbers have come alongside that success.

His 24 touchdown passes also stand out. Moving the ball is one thing, but finishing drives is what turns a busy offense into a winning one. Salt Lake finished near the top of the West, and Redmond is a big reason why.

Looking back

The Summit ended the year behind Sacramento in the West, close enough to the top that the final standings came down to a game or two.

Redmond is not dwelling on that. "I am just trying to get better each week," he said. "If we keep winning, the rest takes care of itself."

For a quarterback who prefers to let his play speak for him, 2,774 yards and 24 touchdowns say a lot. The league has noticed, even if Redmond would rather talk about the team.