2023 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 11 Days (Antwaan Randle El)

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The start of the IU football season is closing in. We are now just 11 days away from the Hoosiers kicking off the 2023 campaign against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Today we look at one of Indiana football’s all-time greats in Antwaan Randle El.

Antwaan Randle El (Alumni)

Hometown: Riverdale, Illinois

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 185 Pounds

Position: Quarterback

Antwaan Randle El was a pioneer at the quarterback position in college football from 1998 to 2001. He was an elite athlete for IU, playing three varsity sports, but eventually settling on football.

During his time at IU Randle El became the first Division I football player to pass for 40 touchdowns and run for 40 touchdowns in their career. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as Big Ten MVP in 2001. He was also a first team All-American that season.

While the Hoosiers never got to the postseason during those years, Randle El provided fans memories that will last a life time as he would almost single-handedly win games against Big Ten opponents.

Randle El was elected into the Indiana Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 and is currently on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.

After his career with the Hoosiers, Randle El put together a nice professional career in the NFL as a wide receiver. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2002-05, winning a Super Bowl title and being named a first-team All-Pro in 2005. He then spent four seasons in Washington (2006-09), before returning to Pittsburgh in 2010.

Currently, Randle El is the wide receivers coach for the NFL’s Detroit Lions. In 2019 and 2020 he was an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Randle El’s number 11 hasn’t been worn since, but maybe it is a legacy number in the making.