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Why Dom Randolph Tops My Walter Payton Ballot

Every year, I get to vote on the major FCS awards of the year, including the Walter Payton award (for the best offensive player in FCS), the Buck Buchanan award (defense), and Eddie Robinson award (head coach). I've been voting on these awards for years, but never have I had a Patriot League player on top of the list.

The one I submitted this year did, though.

I've seen a lot of quarterbacks this year, and Holy Cross senior QB Dom Randolph is, in my opinion, the most deserving.

*****

There are players with gaudier stats (like Stephen F. Austin junior QB Jeremy Moses, with 36 TDs), already-legendary players (Appalachian State senior QB Armanti Edwards) and high-profile FBS transfers (Jacksonville State senior QB Ryan Perriloux).

But no team in FCS meant more to his team than Randolph.

Why? Let me count the ways.

His 37 TDs - 31 through the air, 6 on the ground - was 77 percent of the Crusaders' touchdowns this year. More than three quarters!
As a sophomore, he was not a hugely mobile QB, but by his senior year he had added the ability to take off with the ball running to his already-bursting arsenal. This year he led the team in rushing (474 yards), while crushing a ton of different Patriot League records with his 3,429 yards passing.

Since his first collegiate football game (against Marist in 2006), he scored at least one touchdown a game. Until Holy Cross' regular season-ending loss to Bucknell, Randolph had 20 consecutive multi-touchdown games. Twenty!

He is the active FCS career leader in total offense (13,887 yards), passing
yards (13,108 yards), passing touchdowns (114) and ranks second in touchdowns responsible for (129). He led FCS in total offense - more than Perriloux or Armanti.

And here's the final reason why he deserves the honor more than anybody else: without Perriloux, 8-3 Jacksonville State still would have been a pretty stacked team. Without Armanti, Appalachian State still would have put up points. It's awfully hard to picture the Crusaders winning this year's Patriot League championship without Randolph at the controls. (And had he not found junior WR Freddie Santana against Lehigh with under a minute to play, they may not have.)

No player meant more to his team than Randolph. No-bo-dy.

Comments

ngineer said…
No question Dominick was the premier player in the PL. How he stacks up against the others you list is, as always, very subjective. All of these post-season awards, from a national perspective are usually impossible fathom. We don't see them, they don't see us. It comes down to numbers and how good a pr dept. one's school has. Not saying he doesn't deserve it, though I have my doubts he'll get it due to the 'perception' of the PL barely above the PFL.
Anonymous said…
But no team in FCS meant more to his team than Randolph.

But no CANDIDATE in THE FCS meant more to his team than Randolph.

Engineering major?
Anonymous said…
Are you implying that you didn't vote for Jamaal Branch from Colgate, the winner of the 2003 Walter Payton? Did you vote for Andy Hall from Delaware instead? Geez.
Anonymous said…
I hope the coach Dommie is standing next to is 6-5/250 otherwise this "NFL prospect" looks mighty under-sized to me. I think he'll end up playing arena ball with Sedale somehwhere most people never heard of.
Anonymous said…
Actually that commentary about Randolph is really off base. I would love to know what went through your pea sized brain before you decided to add your worthless two cents of negativity. I think I even know guys with your personality and they are not well liked. I hate Holy Cross with a passion. I want the LU guys to do well and there are three of them there. Having played the game, which you probably never did, because you are probably considerably undersized, I think I can offer you a reasonably accurate assessment of Randolph. He is well known to professional scouts from nearly every team. he is worlds better than Sedale and he is a very desirable commodity. He will be drafted and he will star in the league. If you are still around in ten years, come back and let me know how i did. Chances are with your bad karma and your very bad attitude, that you have anxiety and stress related issues that will damage your health, so ten years may be a stretch. Happy holidays naysayer!
Anonymous said…
Nobody but you wannabee ex-jocks sees the Patriot League as a breeding ground for genuine pro prospects. For years I've heard Bozos like yourself hype PL stars like Bergen, Threatt, Branch, Gordie Lockbaum and any number of Lafayette LB's as "ready to play on Sundays". Awesome predictions there bucko. Your man crash on Dommie is about to take a serious blow (no pun intended) when he is passed over the first day of the draft. If lucky he might get a call in the 5-9 rounds. More likely somebody will give him a tryout then he'll go away like so many others before him.

I too can say I played the game. My name is Bill Belichick. Prove me wrong, tough guy.
Anonymous said…
well i do know this bucko, if you were standing in front of me, your weasely ass would be beaten within an inch of your life
Anonymous said…
My dad can beat up you dad, so there.
Anonymous said…
We ought to be rooting for Randolph, Skelton and other PL players to make it in NFL. If one goes strictly by "how many PL players are good enough to play at next level", the league falls very short of even the Ivies. This would lend status to the league, but alas, players are not really good enough to play at next level.

I think Skeleton probably has a better chance due to size.
Anonymous said…
And to the comment above there are only 7 rounds for your information

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