Engineering A Ground Game

JOSEPH RANDLE BEGAN A NEW HOBBY EARLIER THIS YEAR. "I PICKED UP SALSA DANCING with a girl I like," says Oklahoma State's starting tailback. "It's really fun." It should be no surprise that Randle would embrace an activity that allows him to use his feet. For two years he'd been gliding down the field at Boone Pickens Stadium, first gaining 879 rushing and receiving yards as a freshman backup two years ago, then, following the departure of All-America Kendall Hunter, racking up 1,216 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground as a sophomore to earn second-team All--Big 12 honors. The Cowboys' powerful offense was known more for the aerial exploits of quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon, but as coach Mike Gundy notes, "Joseph Randle touched the ball more than anyone. It shows you the importance he has in our offense that most people don't realize."

Randle's significance may grow even more this season. As the Cowboys break in a new QB—true freshman Wes Lunt—and reload at receiver, the backfield tandem of Randle and sophomore Jeremy Smith (91 carries for 646 yards in 2011) is the offense's most experienced unit. "Randle and Smith have to carry more of the load," says Gundy. "Those guys will have to help the quarterback out [this] season."

When a coach speaks, Randle listens. His father, Larry Sr., is a longtime Pop Warner coach in Wichita, Kans., the family's hometown, and Joseph first donned a helmet at the age of three. "They called me Little Randle," says the now-20-year-old, who admits that in those early days he didn't really know what was going on. "It was more like wrestling people on the sideline. When we were up 40, they put me at way, way back safety." But Randle soon began soaking up knowledge of the game, both from his father and from two older brothers who went on to become college running backs, Larry (Emporia State) and John (Kansas and Southern Illinois).

In choosing OSU, Randle followed in the footsteps of another Wichita running back, 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders. Unlike Sanders, who essentially sat behind Thurman Thomas for two years, the 6' 1", 194-pound Randle thought he'd have a shot to contribute right away because his slashing running style differed from the more straight-ahead Hunter's. He was right. And Randle's receiving ability is a bonus in an offense that often looks to pass first. He has 80 receptions in two seasons, primarily on screens and quick throws. Says offensive coordinator Todd Monken, "He can catch the ball and make people miss in space."

In choosing a field of study, Randle decided early in high school that he'd like to follow in the footsteps of his brother Larry, who graduated with degrees in physics and engineering and now works at Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita. Randle is one of only two Cowboys players majoring in industrial engineering. But the NFL will get first crack at him. "Don't get me wrong," Randle says. "I want to play football as long as I can."

To that end, Randle aims to continue improving in two areas: lowering his pad level on tough inside runs (a persistent challenge since he's tall for a running back) and holding on to the ball. In a rare lowlight last year he fumbled twice in consecutive November games against Texas Tech and Iowa State. He rebounded to burst for 151 yards on 19 carries in the Cowboys' 44--10 rout of archrival Oklahoma. That performance helped OSU clinch the 2011 Big 12 title. He hopes he'll be doing the same salsa at the end of this season.