Football's Delvon Randall Reflects on Being an Owl Ahead of Senior Day

PHILADELPHIA- As Temple football takes on USF this Saturday on Senior Day, safety Delvon Randall will be among the 19 seniors trotting out onto Lincoln Financial Field in Cherry & White for perhaps the final time.

Randall, a Pittsburgh native who serves as a leader on the back end of Temple's defense, is on pace to become the program's all-time leader in consecutive games played by the end of this year - a feat that is a testament to the impressive career he has pieced together over the past four seasons.

"I've built some great relationships with some great people here," said Randall. "I thank God every day for keeping me injury free throughout my career. It's an honor."

Since arriving in North Philadelphia as a member of the 2015 recruiting class, Randall has taken on the role of a leader in the secondary without looking back, making significant contributions to seasons that are among the most successful in program history along the way.

During the Owls' back-to-back 10-win seasons from 2015-2016, Randall burst onto the scene, earning significant playing time as a freshman and becoming a starter as a sophomore. He immediately asserted himself as a force in the secondary, as well as on special teams, from the get-go.

"I am proud of him and the way he manages our secondary… He is such a tremendous competitor - highly intelligent, tremendous ball skills," said head coach Geoff Collins this past summer. "We run a complex NFL scheme, and he makes all the calls, all the checks, and does a tremendous job of making plays on the ball and in the run game."

Quarterback Frank Nutile shared similar admiration. "Delvon Randall is by far one of the best players I've played against my whole life," said Nutile, an excellent leader in his own right. "His leadership skills and playing ability are second to none."

That leadership, Randall says, is due to former Owls like linebacker Tyler Matakevich and quarterback P.J. Walker taking him under their wings years ago.

"I talk to guys like Tyler and P.J. still, and I thank them for teaching me to become the leader that I am today," he explained. "I feel like I've taught the young guys a lot, on the field and off the field. Just teaching them life lessons, being a mentor to them, being someone to talk to, and things like that. I'm ready to pass the torch down to those guys."

In addition, he has helped establish a culture of toughness - being #TempleTUFF - under Collins in a way that cannot be understated, instilling a mentality and work-ethic in the underclassmen that is translating into on-the-field success.

"Being #TempleTUFF is about being one of the hardest working people. It's about having a chip on your shoulder and being the underdog in everything that you do," he explained. "It's about overcoming adversity, and just coming in and competing every day - in school, and on the field."

This season, the Gateway High School graduate has racked up 61 total tackles to complement two interceptions (10 on his career) and five passes defended, contributing greatly to a defense that is nationally ranked 12th in team passing efficiency (107.09), 17th in passing yards allowed (181.4 ypg), and 24th in red-zone defense (.769).

With Temple sitting at 6-4 (5-1 in conference play) and bowl season quickly approaching, Randall says that when he takes the field at The Linc on Saturday for his final time as an Owl, only one thing will be on his mind.

"Football," he said. "I feel that it'll be the same as when I left high school… I leave my mark, and then it's onto the next stage."

Temple University Athletics

Football's Delvon Randall Reflects on Being an Owl Ahead of Senior Day

Players Mentioned

Tyler Matakevich

Frank Nutile

Delvon Randall

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