From the #409 to The Spring League: Rodney Randle Jr. hopes to impress

By: Justin Kelm

Former Lamar Cardinal Defensive Back Rodney Randle Jr. will continue his football career in The Spring League. Randle Jr. was drafted by the Blues. Randle Jr. played his high school and collegiate career in Beaumont. He attended Clifton J. Ozen High School and was key member of the Panthers. He then went on to have a stellar career at Lamar University with the Cardinals.

During his time as a leader with the Cardinals, Randle Jr. was named an All-Southland Conference selection twice. After his time at Lamar was done, Randle Jr. put on a show at his Pro Day. In addition to posting a 41-inch vertical leap, he also ran a 4.28 40-yard dash.

This was phenomenal and the Los Angeles Chargers gave him a shot, signing him as a undrafted free agent in 2019. He spent all preseason with the Chargers but was part of the final cuts. Randle Jr. has continued to be prepared for his next opportunity and it his arrived. Be sure to catch him and his Blues in action this fall.

Fox Sports recently announced they would televise the Spring League 2020 season which will be held at the end of October. The Spring League’s six teams will play a 12-game schedule in San Antonio, with games held in a bubble environment at the Alamodome.

Week 1
Oct. 27: Alphas vs. Blues – 12:00 pm ET
Oct. 27: Aviators vs. Jousters – 4:00 pm ET
Oct. 27: Conquerors vs. Generals – 8:00 p.m. ET – FS1
Week 2
Nov. 4: Blues vs. Aviators – 5:00 pm ET – FS1
Nov. 4: Alphas vs. Conquerors – 10:00 pm ET – FS1
Nov. 5: Generals vs. Jousters – 8:00 pm ET
Week 3
Nov. 10: Jousters vs. Alphas – 8:00 pm ET  – FS1
Nov. 11: Conquerors vs. Aviators – 3:00 pm ET
Nov. 11: Blues vs. Generals – 8:00 pm ET  – FS1
Week 4
Nov. 17: Jousters vs. Conquerors – 8:00 pm ET  – FS1
Nov. 18: Alphas vs. Blues – 3:00 pm ET
Nov. 18: Aviators vs. Generals – 8:00 pm ET  – FS1
Week 5 – Playoffs
To be announced.

Two-Time All-Southland Conference selection … Played in 41 games earning 31 starts … Recorded 170 tackles during his career, including 119 solo stops … Was also credited with 3.0 tackles for losses (1.0 sack), five interceptions for 49 yards in returns, 21 pass breakups, one forced fumble and a recovered fumble … Also returned 84 kicks for 1,802 yards and a touchdown … Averaged better than 21 yards per kickoff return … He ended his career just one return and 18 return yards shy of being the school’s all-time leader.
 
2018 (Senior): Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference … Played in and started all 12 games … finished third on the team with 70 tackles … Had 54 unassisted stops on the season … Picked off a pass and recorded 12 pass deflections … Had two double-figure tackle performances …Returned 11 kicks for 214 yards (19.5 ypr) … Returned two punts for 39 yards (19.5 ypr) … Tied his career high with 11 tackles and intercepted a pass against Incarnate Word … Set a new career high two weeks later by recording 15 stops, including 10 solos, at Stephen F. Austin … Registered eight solo tackles at Texas Tech … Recorded nine tackles (eight unassisted) and broke up three passes against Sam Houston State … Had five tackles and four pass breakups against Houston Baptist … Recorded five stops, four unassisted, and two pass breakups against Northwestern State … Returned eight kicks for 146 (18.3 ypr) and returned two punts for 39 yards against the Demons.

2017 (Junior): Played in and started all 11 games in the Cards’ secondary … Finished fourth on the team in total tackles … Recorded 53 tackles, including 32 individual stops … Was also credited with two tackles for losses, including a sack … Broke up two passes, forced a fumble and recovered another … Also returned 14 kicks for 319 yards (22.8 ypr) … Returned four punts for 51 yards (12.8 ypr) … Recorded one interception on the season … Recorded a career-high 11 tackles at North Texas … Among his 11 stops at UNT, seven were unassisted tackles … Had an eight-tackle performance, with six solos stops, against Central Arkansas … Had a seven-tackle performance at nationally ranked Sam Houston State … Recorded three tackles and picked off his lone pass of the season at Northwestern State … Posted six tackles (including five solo stops) and a TFL at Southeastern Louisiana … Also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass against the Lions … Had five tackles and a sack at Incarnate Word … Also returned three punts for a season-high 48 yards (16.0 ypr) and returned a kick for 19 yards against Incarnate Word … Had four tackles and broke up a pass at Houston Baptist … Also recovered a blocked extra-point try and returned it for a two-point conversion against HBU … The return helped spark a second-half comeback for the Cardinals … Returned four kicks for a season-high 112 yards (28.0 ypr) against Nicholls.
                                      
2016 (Sophomore): Played in nine games earning eight starts on the season …. Recorded 19 tackles, including one for a loss … Had two pass breakups … Also returned 33 kicks for 634 yards (19.2 ypc) … Opened the year with four tackles (one unassisted), including one for a loss against Coastal Carolina … Had seven returns for a season-high 138 yards (19.7 ypg) against the Chanticleers … Followed that up with four stops, a pass breakup and four returns for 96 yards at Houston … Had six returns for 99 yards and three tackles, including two solo stops, against Sam Houston State.

2015 (Freshman): One of the top freshmen in the Southland Conference … Second-Team All-Southland Conference … Played in nine games seeing time in the Cardinals secondary and as their primary return threat … Recorded 28 tackles, including 21 unassisted stops … Also broke up five passes and picked off three, which he returned 49 yards … Returned 26 kicks for 635 yards and one touchdown … Also returned two punts on the season …  Ranked second in the Southland averaging 24.4 yards per kick return, and was one of only three players in the league to return a kick for a touchdown … Finished year ranked among the league’s top 10 in interceptions … Recorded a season-high seven tackles at nationally ranked Baylor … Also recorded an interception which he returned 51 yards against the Bears … Had six tackles and picked off a pass in the win over Abilene Christian … Also deflected three passes against the Wildcats … Recorded four stops and picked off a pass at Northwestern State.

High School: A four-year letterwinner … Earned honorable mention all-district honors following a junior season that saw him rush for 525 yards and six touchdowns … Named district utility player of the year after a senior season that saw him rush for 638 yards – and eight touchdowns – and record 85 tackles on defense … Received second-team Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold Team for his efforts on the field … Team captain … Has been clocked at 4.31 in the 40 … Guided his squad to the playoffs as a sophomore and senior … Also lettered in track.