Former Hoosier QB Antwaan Randle El is the 2018 Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award Winner

IU Athletics Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Former Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El (1997-2001) is this year's recipient of the Big Ten's Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award, the conference announced today. Wisconsin's Jake Wood will receive the Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award.
 
These awards recognize Big Ten football students who have achieved success in the areas of leadership and humanitarianism following their academic and athletic careers at a Big Ten university.
 
Randle El is the first Hoosier to receive the Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award. The late IU legend George Taliaferro won the inaugural Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award in 2011.
 
The Ford-Kinnick Leadership and Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Awards are part of the Big Ten's annual awards program. The Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award is named for Michigan's Gerald Ford and Iowa's Nile Kinnick. The Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award is named for Minnesota's Tony Dungy and Indiana's Anthony Thompson. For more information on these awards, including biographical information on the namesakes, visit bigten.org.
 
Randle El, a 2012 IU Athletics Hall of Famer, is on the 2019 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The 2001 first team All-American and Big Ten Most Valuable Player finished sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting after he placed 13th in 2000.


He earned All-Big Ten distinction in 1999, 2000 and 2001, and he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1998.

The Riverdale, Ill., native was the first player in NCAA history to score 40 touchdowns (45) and throw for 40 TDs (42), the first to record over 2,500 total yards in four seasons, and the first to both pass for over 6,000 yards and rush for over 3,000 yards.

Randle El played in the NFL for 10 years with Pittsburgh and Washington, and was a member of the 2005 Super Bowl champion Steelers. He became the first wide receiver in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl.
 
In 2010, Randle El and his brother Curtis Randle El established The EL Foundation, which strives to provide life-changing opportunities for underserved children and their families across the country. The EL Foundation consistently provides and implements enrichment and recreational programs, camps and opportunities to support, encourage, develop and empower exceptional and successful young men and women.
 
Additionally, Randle El co-founded the Virginia Academy in 2013, where he serves as Athletic Director and Basketball Coach.
 
Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award Recipients
2011: Archie Griffin, OSU
2012: Jon Runyan, MICH
2013: Gene Washington, MSU
2014: Mike Hopkins, ILL
2015: Brian Griese, MICH
2016: Reggie McKenzie, MICH
2017: Troy Vincent, WIS
2018: Antwaan Randle El, IND
 
Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award Recipients
2011: George Taliaferro, IND
2012: Chris Spielman, OSU
2013: Drew Brees, PUR
2014: Brian Griese, MICH
2015: John Shinsky, MSU
2016: Trent Green, IND
2017: Chad Greenway, IOWA
2018: Jake Wood, WIS