Name: Kendricks Gladney
School: Coastal Carolina
Position: S/OLB

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 212

What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?

The goals that I set was to finish my last year having fun, improve in every category of the game of football, and win a bowl game. Every one of those goals were accomplished and I’m thankful how I finished my collegiate career.

Q: How do you think you took advantage of the extra year of eligibility to increase your chances of going pro?

Becoming a better athlete, for example, more fluidity in my play, becoming more explosive, and learning  my body. I also improved my knowledge of the game by digging deeper into my playbook and studying NFL guys, when I first transferred to Coastal it was through the first off-season of covid, it was difficult to find gyms to train in, fields to work, and our practices continuously got cancelled. I came into the first game of the season vs a Pac 12 opponent with 12 camp practices under my belt. It taught me I could play through a lot of adversity, this is why that extra season made the game really slow down for me mentally. lastly I feel as though I showed I’m a very versatile defender that can also play special teams as well.

Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?

The first thing I believe they would say is “leader” I truly believe I make others around me better, on and off the field. Secondly I’m a hard worker, thats were my respect comes from because they see my work ethic and believe I’m about what I say, or what I challenge them to become. Lastly, they would say I love to have fun, football is extremely important to me but at the end of the day it’s just like any other game, I love to make it fun because it’s what I truly love to do but I also understand it’s a time and place for that.

Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?

I focus on tendencies and habits, a lot of players repetitively do the same thing without noticing and I like to pick up on those specific ques, when it comes to habits I love to see how a player or team plays the game of football, yes you can be very talented but that does not necessarily make you the best, there is a lot of aspects of football that you can not measure that determines how talented people or a team are.

Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?

Versatility, I can play anything from FS, SS, Nickel, Dime, CB, OLB, MLB, rushing as a DE on blitz etc, I truly believe I can fit any scheme required of a safety. 

Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?

I am constantly training everyday on my craft with a ex. great NFL player (Blaine Bishop), working on mobility everyday, speed and explosion with X3 training, and palates with a very good instructor that trains a lot of NFL athletes. Lastly throughout the week working on my craft simply attacking my entire game in order to be a complete defensive player.

Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

For one my work ethic, whether I’m the starter on a NFL team, the third string guy, or a special teams guy you will look at me (Kendricks Gladney) and say he makes this a better program. I’m a natural born leader, and a great person to be around on and off the field. I love the game of football and my energy is contagious which encourages others to want to bring the same energy to the table. An NFL team is getting an explosive safety that loves the physicality aspect of the game without leaving out the finesse. My favorite defensive backs are Sean Taylor and Charles Woodson so I understand no matter how athletic you must know the game of football like it is the back of your hand and that is me.

Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?

You could take a chance on any other kid but I’m a young man that simply loves the game of football. If I was working at Popeyes on Saturday and someone said we’ll need you suite up for an NFL team on Sunday I’d do it. I love this game, it is more than a game to me its a lifestyle, the trials and tribulations I’ve encountered throughout my life made me mentally stronger than most and I understand adversity only makes me stronger. I’m hungry, dedicated, ambitious, I’m am far more than what my stats portray, one day I’ll be an all-pro.