The Rueben Randle Era at LSU: Is He Really a "Game Changer"?

LSU has had its share of strong wide receivers in the modern era. Names like Eric Martin, Michael Clayton, and of course, Biletnikoff Award winner Josh Reed are strong names to throw around in such discussions. Sign me up for any of these three—10 out of 10 times.

And of course, recent players like Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis, and Early Doucet have fared quite well for themselves and are all on current NFL rosters. Throw in current returners JoJo LaFell (Sr), who possesses the prototypical NFL form and body, and former five-star Junior Terrance Toliver, and the returning receiver corps is anything but lacking.

So what is all the fuss about today's signing of Rueben Randle? Is he a "game changer" in a different way than the others? Is he really THAT good?

Well, when you draw comparisons to NFL receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, yet have the humility and grace of Andre Johnson, that makes for a bit of excitement for the team that is successful in catching such a projected phenom.

"Throw in" amazing versatility—like a 55-catch 1000+ receiving year as a junior and conversion to QB for a senior campaign in which he rushed for over 600 yards and passed for nearly 2500 yards and 20 TD's—and you quickly realize just how special Rueben really is as a football player. 

At last, one who is generally considered to be in the top three nationally in 'best after catch", "best athlete," and "best hands" categories, gives even more right to such expectations.

So, as Randle arrives next summer in Baton Rouge with JoJo and Terrance, and a host of talented receivers, it is hard to say if he will be able to smoothly transition BACK to the receiver spot and have the impact that LSU followers are expecting. But, if his performance at the All-American game is any indication, his conversion is going pretty dang good.

So lets assess his impact in 2009 at LSU.

On the one hand, Randle could have a very similar freshman campaign to that of Alabama's Julio Jones. As Randle comes out of HS with at least as good of credentials in the recruiter rating services, he surely possesses similar attributes.

On the other hand, won't he have a hard time competing for passes when JoJo is returning to LSU for his Senior year to enhance his draft status? Indeed, JoJo will likely get the majority of balls in 2009.

Now, considering Terrance Toliver and TE Richard Dickson along with three big-time senior RB's, Rueben had better not expect the level of action Julio received at Bama, where there was considerably less competition for the ball. Yet, this very consideration should open up single coverage most of the year; and Rueben is likely to be the winner of such one-on-one battles with six-foot DB's.

Additionally, it is a good bet that Coach Miles made a commitment to Rueben and his father to get his share of the Gary Crowton play-calls in 2009. Otherwise, this humble, but highly confident freak-of-nature would be on the receiving end of passes from a certain 2008 Heisman trophy winner in Norman, instead of from Jordan Jefferson or Jarrett Lee down on the Bayou. With such a commitment and the double teaming that JoJo will draw, things could bode quite well for the 6' 3" receiving phenom in 2009.

Indeed, the buzz for Rueben on the LSU campus is rightfully high.

In the end, he may in-fact be a "game changer" in more than one game during the 2009 season.

But, we'll all have to wait for the season to unfold before proclaiming Rueben as the other kind of "game changer"—you know, the kind that proves him worthy of the Moss, Owens, and Johnson comparison instead of Martin, Reed, and Clayton.

Suggestion: Don't be the guy betting against Mr. Randle. If you do, let me in on the action.