Future Husker: Thaddeus Randle

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Thaddeus Randle, Houston (North Shore High School), 6-1, 260, defensive tackle

Of note: Rated among the top 100 defensive tackle prospects in the nation, Randle is considered by Rivals.com a three-star prospect.

This week: North Shore hasn’t played a game since Hurricane Ike hit in mid-September. It hopes to play next week.

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Thaddeus Randle

Thaddeus Randle

Not the ideal season

The season started well for Randle and North Shore High School. Coming off a 14-1 season last year, where the Mustangs advanced to the Class 5A Division I state semifinals, North Shore started the year 2-0. In those games, Randle played well, with one sack and 11 tackles.

Then Hurricane Ike hit, and football games have been cancelled since. The school remains without electricity, but after two weeks without classes, school is expected to begin Monday. The football team has already resumed practice.

Randle never had to leave his home, but was without electricity until early this week.

“It hit us pretty bad,” Randle said, “but it looks way better now.”

Randle is looking forward to getting on with the season, and feels that playing again is best for everyone. The experience has taught him much.

“You appreciate everything, like the little stuff,” Randle said. “First of all, electricity. All the food places are closed, so it’s a lot of sandwiches.”

Sight unseen

Randle will be making his first visit to Lincoln this weekend for the game against Virginia Tech. Having grown up in a professional sports town, Randle is looking forward to the experience.

“That’s a huge atmosphere, because that’s all they have, is college football,” he said. “That’s another reason why I want to go there, because it’s nothing but college football.”

Most of what Randle knows about Nebraska he learned from the Internet. Orally committing to a school without having made a visit isn’t as odd as it might seem, Randle said.

“You can look at pictures, learn information on the coaches like where they came from and see the people who made it to the NFL from that school,” he said.

Spring football

Once at Nebraska, Randle will be no stranger to spring football practice. It’s common in the Texas high school ranks. North Shore practiced for several weeks in the spring, held a major scrimmage and a spring game.

“It’s harder in the spring, because in the spring you’re trying to earn a spot and be better than people in front of you,” said Randle, one of three on his team to commit to Big 12 schools.

At Nebraska, Randle plans to study business or architecture.

— Brent C. Wagner