2021 Countdown to Kickoff: 11 Days (Antwaan Randle El)

Written by Matt Smith

11 days remain until kickoff of the 2021 IU football season. The Hoosiers will kick off the season against Iowa on Sept. 4th. Make sure to keep checking the Hoosier Huddle website each day for a new player in the 100-day countdown. The 11th player is IU Football Alumni Antwaan Randle El.

Antwaan Randle El

Height: 5’10’’

Weight: 185 pounds

Hometown: Riverdale, IL.

Position: QB

Randle El played football at Indiana from 1998 to 2001. The former NFL wide receiver was once the starting quarterback for the Hoosiers. In his first college game in 1998, Randle El broke the NCAA record for most yards in a collegiate debut with 467. He won Big Ten player of the week twice during that year.

One of those awards came when Randle El scored a last second touchdown to beat Iowa after losing to them by 60 points the year before. He was the Big Ten freshman of the year as well. That award was later renamed the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the year award.

Randle El was the first quarterback in NCAA division 1 history to pass for 40 touchdowns as well as run for 40 touchdowns. In 2001 Randle El won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football for MVP of the Big Ten Conference. He finished his collegiate career fifth on the all-time yardage list. 

Randle El also played basketball for Bobby Knight during his time at IU. He was inducted into the Indiana Athletic hall of fame in 2012. 

During his time in the NFL Randle El won Super Bowl XL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was also all-pro in 2005. He was a Wide Receiver and also was used as a QB in trick play situations. He is currently the wide receiver coach for the Detroit Lions.