Antwaan Randle El

Infobox NFLactive


caption=
currentteam=Washington Redskins
currentnumber=82
currentposition=Wide receiver
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|8|17
birthplace=Riverdale, Illinois
heightft=5
heightin=10
weight=190
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Pittsburgh Steelers
college=Indiana
highlights=
* Super Bowl XL champion
draftyear=2002
draftround=2
draftpick=62
pastteams=
* Pittsburgh Steelers (2002-2005)
* Washington Redskins (2006-Present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=245
statlabel2=Receiving Yards
statvalue2=3,091
statlabel3=Receiving TDs
statvalue3=11
nfl=RAN399604

Antwaan Randle El (born August 17, 1979 in Riverdale, Illinois) is an American football wide receiver and punt returner for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. A quarterback in college at Indiana University, he is also occasionally called on to pass on trick plays, most notably in Super Bowl XL in which he threw a pass for a touchdown.

High school

Randle El attended Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois. He starred at football, basketball and baseball. He scored 69 points in a single basketball game, an Illinois High School State Record. He was a high school teammate of current Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Napoleon Harris, as well as New Orleans Hornets center Melvin Ely and former NFL wide receiver Tai Streets. He was selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft in 1997 by the Chicago Cubs (424th overall), but elected to attend Indiana University.

College career

Randle El was a quarterback at Indiana University, where he was considered one of the premier offensive threats in the Big Ten Conference and received some consideration for the Heisman Trophy (coming in 6th in Heisman voting) during his senior season. Randle El was the first player in Division I history to pass for 40 career touchdowns and score 40 career rushing touchdowns. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2001, and was named the first-team All-American quarterback by the Football Writers Association of America. He finished his college career as the fifth on the all-time NCAA total yardage list, and became the first player in college football history to record 2,500 total yards for four consecutive years. He finished his career with 7,469 passing yards, 3,895 rushing yards, and 92 touchdowns running and passing. He is considered to be the second most statistically productive dual-threat quarterback to ever play college football. (#1 being Michael Vick) [Source?] .

While attending Indiana University, Randle El also played varsity basketball under Bob Knight. A standout defender, he joined the 1998-99 IU basketball team following the football season. Randle El also played varsity baseball during the 2000 season for Indiana.

NFL career

Pittsburgh Steelers

Randle El was selected in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Subsequently, the Steelers moved him to the receiver position. Together with Hines Ward (another successful receiver who played quarterback in college, at Georgia) and Plaxico Burress, he made up part of what was widely regarded as one of the top wide receiver corps in the NFL, although Burress has since left the Steelers for the New York Giants. Additionally, the Steelers made him their top kickoff returner through the 2004-2005 season, and their top punt returner since he joined the team. His quarterback experience allowed the Steelers to use him as a passer in a variety of trick plays, most notably a game-clinching 43-yard fake reverse touchdown pass to Hines Ward in Super Bowl XL. He was the third non-quarterback and the first receiver to throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.

Washington Redskins

On March 12, 2006, Randle El signed a seven-year, $31 million deal to play for the Washington Redskins. [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060313/SPORTS0303/603130438/1100/SPORTS03] In the Redskins' Week 7 matchup in 2006 against the Indianapolis Colts, Randle El returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was his first punt return for a touchdown as a Redskin. In the week 17 match-up versus the New York Giants, Randle El threw a 48 yard touchdown to wide receiver Santana Moss. It was his first passing touchdown as a Redskin. In the 2007 season opener versus the Miami Dolphins, Randle El caught 5 passes for a career high 162 yards.

In 2008, he threw another Fake WR reverse pass (same play as he did as a Steelers player), but with Santana Moss sealed off by Philadelphia Eagles defense, he threw across to the secondary target, tight end Chris Cooley. This is his first passing TD with Jim Zorn as head coach.

Miscellaneous

Randle El's younger brother, Marcus, is a wide receiver and kick returner for the University of Wisconsin, while his older brother Curtis was a defensive back at Indiana University.

A tremendous quarterback in the college game, who often dazzled opponents with his feet, can also throw the ball in the NFL. His career NFL passer rating is 154.1 (perfect is 158.3).

External links

* [http://redskins.com/gen/players/Antwaan_Randle_El.jsp Washington Redskins Profile]
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/RandAn00.htm Current Stats]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=RANDLANT01 More Current Stats]