Reddick will be Palmetto's tailback this fall

Dequan Reddick started at tailback for Palmetto during Thursday's spring football game against St. Petersburg Northeast, a scenario that will play out during the fall, as well.
"Dequan Reddick is much better this year," coach Dave Marino said. "He's a year older, a year stronger..."
Reddick carried the ball 46 times for 156 yards in 2009.
"We felt that Dequan was ready to step up and carry the load for us at tailback (this spring)," Marino said. "(Last year), he was just young...Now, he's a sophomore going into his junior year, and he's bigger and stronger.
"And now, he's ready to carry the load and handle the punishment at tailback."
The coaches' confidence in Reddick has allowed Marquis Green to slip into the defensive backfield. Green missed the beginning of last season with an injury, but still managed to tally nearly 1,000 yards rushing.
He had one carry Friday - and turned it into a 66-yard touchdown run. That said, Marino feels Palmetto is a better team with Green at cornerback.
"He's going to have to play both ways," Marino said. "We played him at tailback out of necessity last year. We've lost some guys in the secondary, so we needed to put Marquis back over there to solidify that unit on the back end."
Both expect to be in action Aug. 27, when Palmetto hosts Riverview in a Kickoff Classic.