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Seven Things We've Learned About Su'a Cravens

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As players take their final breaks before training camp, The Redskins Blog will take a look back at the new faces from this offseason and what we've learned about them, football and otherwise, so far.

Today, we'll focus on rookie safety Su'a Cravens. 

1. He was recruited to USC by defensive coordinator Joe Barry:

When Su'a answered his phone during the second round of the NFL Draft, he heard a familiar voice on the other end of the line. It was Joe Barry, who had helped recruit Cravens to USC, calling to let him know he'd be a Washington Redskin.

Check out images of safety Su'a Cravens during his first few months with the Washington Redskins.

Cravens' relationship with Barry has eased his transition to the NFL.

"It feels good," Cravens said. "I felt like I'm at home, it's nice to have a guy that recruited me before and knows my skillset so I'm comfortable with the things that he's doing because he knows what to do with me, so it feels good."

2. He's enjoying his Summer of “Seinfeld”:

Even though he has seen every episode, Cravens still binge watches entire seasons of “Seinfeld” at a time.

"I wouldn't say I have a favorite episode, but anything that's Kramer-based, I like it. I watch the reruns, I watch the whole season in a day and turn it off. Come back the next day, watch the next season."

3. Cravens can play all over:

Cravens was one of the most versatile defenders in college football last year, and the team hopes to convert his hybrid, athletic style to the NFL. The coaching staff decided the best place for him to start learning the defense is at linebacker, which he has eagerly embraced, though his eventual role is likely at safety.

"I mean right now I just want to learn the position they want me to be at," Cravens said. "Right now that's mo linebacker, and I've never played inside, so it's been a whole new world for me trying to learn that playbook. I thought I was going to be a strong safety, but right now I'm just following what the plan is, I just want to play."

4. He's adding technique to his athleticism:

Even though Cravens' raw athleticism allowed him to play all over the field in college, he understands that adding to his skillset is what will enable him to play at the next level.

"In college, it was a different transition from high school to college, but here it's much different," he said. "Everybody's big and everybody's fast, there's not a position where I can be like 'OK, I can use my athleticism to beat him.' You have to have technique with everything."

**

5. He's talkative on the field:**

Cravens may be starting his career at linebacker, but he is still a safety at heart. His coaches have given him flak for how vocal he is on the field, a habit he brings from safety.

"Coach K [Kirk Olivadotti] has told me I am the most talkative middle backer they've had, just because I am yelling out the safety rotation and I'm not supposed to do that," he said. "So it's just little things I'm trying to do to remain familiar with that position just in case."

6. He's talkative on the phone:

Su'a loves social media. He is constantly tweeting (@sua_cravens) (His twitter header photo until recently was Jerry Seinfeld.)

When he isn't tweeting, he's snapchatting. Sometimes, he even tweets about Snapchat. Sometimes, he even Snapchats about his tweets.  

I should trademark my "shut up" sequences on snapchat lol — Su'a Cravens (@Sua_Cravens) July 19, 2016

 7. Sean Taylor was his football idol:

Cravens grew up watching Taylor, who inspired his style of play. He wore No. 21 at USC to honor him, and now he wears No. 36 for the Redskins, Taylor's rookie number, after he held a fan vote.

"I am a huge Sean Taylor fan so to have the chance to wear his rookie number, during my rookie year, would mean a lot, but I had to make sure it was the fan's decision, not mine. I don't want to disrespect anybody.

"I remember watching him when he was in the National Championship against Ohio State, just the plays on the field. He just really made me want to play football like him."

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