Harold Randolph

CFL player[14]

What is Harold Randolph known for?

Harold Randolph, born in Greenville, North Carolina on January 28, 1956, is a distinguished alumnus of Junius H. Rose High School. This former American gridiron football player left a notable mark in the world of sports. Standing 6 ft 2 in tall and weighing 215 lb, he played as a linebacker in both the United States Football League (USFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Randolph's early years in Greenville, NC were significant as he was one of the first African-American students to attend the previously all-white Third Street School in 1964, effectively being a forerunner of racial integration in the town. His football journey began at Junius H. Rose High School, from where he proceeded to East Carolina University. Here, he walked on and quickly became a sophomore starter at linebacker in a 5-2 defensive alignment. His immense skill was evident when, as a senior, he set a school record with 166 tackles (124 solo), leading the team in tackles for the third straight season. His college career achievements include 493 tackles (a school record), 4 interceptions, 12 pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. His commitment and dedication to the sport were recognised in 2013 when he was inducted into the East Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.

Randolph's professional journey commenced when he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (166th overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft. However, his time with the Cowboys was brief, as he was waived shortly after. He subsequently moved to the CFL, where he played for the Toronto Argonauts in 1978, the Edmonton Eskimos in 1980, and the Montreal Alouettes in 1981. During his stint with the Argonauts, he famously tackled the Calgary Stampeders' Ray Odums from the sidelines as he was returning an interception for a touchdown.

In the USFL, Randolph's career started with the Washington Federals in 1983, continuing until the end of the 1984 season. When the franchise relocated and was renamed as the Orlando Renegades, Randolph continued to play until the USFL folded in 1986.

Throughout his career, Randolph's outstanding accomplishments were recognised, as evidenced by his 2× All-Southern Conference awards in 1976 and 1977, and the All-Southern Independent award in 1977. His professional profile and statistics can be found here.