The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorn Spotlight: Kheeston Randall
11.22.2011 | Football
Nov. 22, 2011
Jackie LaPenta, Texas Media Relations
After four years of blood, sweat and tears devoted to the Texas Longhorns football program, senior defensive tackle Kheeston Randall sees the end of his journey at Texas on the horizon.
Randall will step onto the field as a member of the Longhorns football team only two more times. He can hardly gauge the level of emotion that this moment will bring.
"As of now, it hasn't hit me yet, but it's hard to tell how I will feel at game time," Randall said. "I think it will hit me after the fact. I'll think, 'Man, I actually played at the University of Texas.'"
Randall's drive for football started as a way to emulate his older cousin when he was in the seventh grade. However, his talent took him above and beyond the average mark propelling him into being one of the top national defensive tackle recruits coming out of high school.
Like so many from his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, Randall decided to join the ranks of the Texas Longhorns to pursue his intercollegiate football career.
"If you want to be the best, you have to go where the best played," Randall said. "All of the good players from my area like [NFL Kansas City Chiefs RB] Jamaal Charles, [former Longhorns QB] James Brown and [NFL Seattle Seahawks S] Earl Thomas all went to Texas."
Randall made the 250-mile trek up I-10 from Beaumont to Austin for his freshman season in 2008 and felt a warm reception from the city.
"I love living in a big city," Randall said. "I have the opportunity to see different types of culture that I wouldn't see where I'm from."
Randall found his niche not only in Austin, but also among the Longhorns defensive line. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he started in a combined 22 games helping the Longhorns rank third and sixth in the nation for total defense, respectively.
Now in his senior season, Randall has anchored a Top 10 national rushing defense to bowl eligibility. Serving as captain against UCLA and Oklahoma State, Randall has demonstrated high levels of senior leadership for a particularly young football team consisting of 22 true freshmen.
"It's great because when I was younger I looked up to the seniors and juniors," Randall reflected. "Now, I can actually see it coming to life how these guys look up to me and they do the things I do."
Randall has been able to flourish into a successful leader because of the guidance and treatment he has received from head coach Mack Brown and the Texas coaching staff and by the strong relationships he has built with his team members.
"They treat us with respect," Randall said of the coaching staff. "They treat us like men and they expect us to treat them like men. The friends I have made in the locker room have been monumental to me. It's the bond we have built over the last four years and the things we have gone through together that makes this program special."
