Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Former roommates setting Raider records
12/12/2018 6:00:00 PM | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Blue Raider defenders Darius Harris and Darryl Randolph have built a strong bond over five years playing collegiate football. The two former roommates have experienced plenty of highs and lows on the gridiron, always doing them together.
When they suit up one final time for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Saturday, they'll add one more checkmark next to their outstanding careers. Harris and Randolph will both play in their 53rd career game, setting a new program record.
"It's a great honor," Harris said. "It doesn't seem like it's been that many, but over the years, time has flown by. It's been a great experience here, and we're just trying to end on the right note."
Randolph and Harris came to Middle Tennessee in the summer of 2014 eager to make their mark on Middle Tennessee's defense.
Both played defensive back in high school, Harris at Horn Lake High School in Horn Lake, Mississippi and Randolph at Pensacola High School in Pensacola, Florida.
A dynamite athlete, Randolph was named to the Class 6A all-state team his senior year after registering 53 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, and he also scored twice on defense and on a kickoff and punt return.
Harris was a do-everything athlete at Horn Lake, playing quarterback and receiver on offense along with his defensive back duties. During his senior year, he played in only five games before being lost the rest of the season due to an injury.
When the two freshmen walked onto campus in Murfreesboro, Harris was sent to a different position group. He moved to linebacker, where he's made a name for himself over his career with 273 total tackles and a top-10 program ranking in career tackles for loss (27.5) and sacks (11.5).
Randolph, nicknamed Scooby, slotted in at safety his first two seasons, then was moved to cornerback before his redshirt junior year. As a senior, he's led the team with 10 pass breakups and blocked his third career kick, setting a program record.
While amassing great careers on the field, the two also grew a strong bond off it, along with former Blue Raider linebacker D.J. Sanders. The group lived together for about a year and a half during their sophomore and junior seasons.
"[Randolph] is someone I came here with and have had a good bond with since we came here in the summer of 2014," Harris said. "Our other running mate, D.J. Sanders, left us a little early, but Scooby has been there through it all."
Harris and Randolph have helped Middle Tennessee's defense reach great heights in the past two seasons, including two straight top-50 finishes nationally in total defense.
The two were given all-conference awards for their efforts this year, Harris landing on the All-Conference USA First Team and Randolph garnering Honorable Mention honors.
"We're just trying to take advantage of every opportunity we get," Randolph said. "We've had the opportunity to play for a great coach in Coach Stock … and we've been on some really good teams the past four years."
The Blue Raider defense is a large reason for the team's 8-5 record this season and berth in the New Orleans bowl.
The bowl game will be the fourth in a row for Middle Tennessee, setting a program record. That means Harris and Randolph will be included in the first senior class in team history to play in bowl games in all of its four years.
"There are only so many people that go to a bowl game, and we've gone to them four straight years," Randolph said. "That means a lot, because we feel like we left our mark … and we're trying to pave the way for the younger guys here."
Playing in four bowls have given Harris and Randolph the opportunity to appear in 52 career games so far.
Their 53rd will come on Saturday, and it'll be the bittersweet culmination of two great Blue Raider careers.
"As we get closer to Saturday, it's really going to hit me that my collegiate career is over with," Harris said. "That'll be sad, but it'll be bittersweet."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
When they suit up one final time for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Saturday, they'll add one more checkmark next to their outstanding careers. Harris and Randolph will both play in their 53rd career game, setting a new program record.
"It's a great honor," Harris said. "It doesn't seem like it's been that many, but over the years, time has flown by. It's been a great experience here, and we're just trying to end on the right note."
Randolph and Harris came to Middle Tennessee in the summer of 2014 eager to make their mark on Middle Tennessee's defense.
Both played defensive back in high school, Harris at Horn Lake High School in Horn Lake, Mississippi and Randolph at Pensacola High School in Pensacola, Florida.
A dynamite athlete, Randolph was named to the Class 6A all-state team his senior year after registering 53 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, and he also scored twice on defense and on a kickoff and punt return.
Harris was a do-everything athlete at Horn Lake, playing quarterback and receiver on offense along with his defensive back duties. During his senior year, he played in only five games before being lost the rest of the season due to an injury.
When the two freshmen walked onto campus in Murfreesboro, Harris was sent to a different position group. He moved to linebacker, where he's made a name for himself over his career with 273 total tackles and a top-10 program ranking in career tackles for loss (27.5) and sacks (11.5).
Randolph, nicknamed Scooby, slotted in at safety his first two seasons, then was moved to cornerback before his redshirt junior year. As a senior, he's led the team with 10 pass breakups and blocked his third career kick, setting a program record.
While amassing great careers on the field, the two also grew a strong bond off it, along with former Blue Raider linebacker D.J. Sanders. The group lived together for about a year and a half during their sophomore and junior seasons.
"[Randolph] is someone I came here with and have had a good bond with since we came here in the summer of 2014," Harris said. "Our other running mate, D.J. Sanders, left us a little early, but Scooby has been there through it all."
Harris and Randolph have helped Middle Tennessee's defense reach great heights in the past two seasons, including two straight top-50 finishes nationally in total defense.
The two were given all-conference awards for their efforts this year, Harris landing on the All-Conference USA First Team and Randolph garnering Honorable Mention honors.
"We're just trying to take advantage of every opportunity we get," Randolph said. "We've had the opportunity to play for a great coach in Coach Stock … and we've been on some really good teams the past four years."
The Blue Raider defense is a large reason for the team's 8-5 record this season and berth in the New Orleans bowl.
The bowl game will be the fourth in a row for Middle Tennessee, setting a program record. That means Harris and Randolph will be included in the first senior class in team history to play in bowl games in all of its four years.
"There are only so many people that go to a bowl game, and we've gone to them four straight years," Randolph said. "That means a lot, because we feel like we left our mark … and we're trying to pave the way for the younger guys here."
Playing in four bowls have given Harris and Randolph the opportunity to appear in 52 career games so far.
Their 53rd will come on Saturday, and it'll be the bittersweet culmination of two great Blue Raider careers.
"As we get closer to Saturday, it's really going to hit me that my collegiate career is over with," Harris said. "That'll be sad, but it'll be bittersweet."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 08
Monday, September 07
Thursday, September 03
Wednesday, September 02
