Next up in our 2012 draft watch series is LSU wide receiver Rueben Randle.
One of the Texans primary needs this upcoming season is another wide receiver to strengthen a corps that's been plagued by injury and mediocrity.
The Texans pick 26th overall but it remains to be seen whether they pull the trigger on a wideout in the first round. The last time the Texans selected a receiver in the first three rounds was in 2007 when they took Jacoby Jones in the third. I would expect the Texans to draft a receiver somewhere in the first three rounds this year, if not in the first round.
Most early projections have Randle as a second round talent but at 6-3, 208, this early-out junior has the size that NFL teams covet. If he runs well at the combine he could very well end up being selected in the mid-first round and out of the Texans reach.
“We think Rueben Randle is as fine a receiver as we play against all year and will play against again,” Saban said. “He’s big, he’s got great speed (and) can make difficult catches. And he’s a physical player.” - Nick Saban
Randle led LSU with 53 receptions, 917 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. But evaluating Randle on stats alone is short-sighted at best, given he played on the 106th ranked passing offense in the country and didn't exactly have Andrew Luck throwing to him.
LSU attempted only 279 passes last season which is among the lowest in all of college football. If Randle played for an Arkansas or Georgia, this story might sound a bit different. Maybe not Julio Jones or A.J. Green different but it would be different.
"It's (the)... rare combination of size and athleticism that made Randle one of the nation's most elite, highly sought-after recruits in the class of 2009, when he was regularly tabbed as one of the top five prospects at any position. ... Randle made good on his potential and then some in 2011 ... His 17.3 average yards per-reception led the SEC among receivers with at least 50 catches." - cbssports.com
So Randle is one to watch during the combine and his pro day. He's already the #6 WR on the board according to nfldraftscout.com and he could be a fast riser.
One report already has Randle, aka @TheBigRubino2 on Twitter, going to the Bears at #19, and we're still weeks away from the combine.
Just a guess but I think Randle would prefer lining up opposite Andre Johnson and playing close to his home (Bastrop, LA) than playing on frozen turf in Chicago.
Rueben Randle, WR LSU (projection and position rank from nfldraftscout.com)
- 6-3, 208
- DOB: May 7, 1991
- Projected draft round: 2
- Position rank: Rated #6 out of 344 WRs
- 2011 ALL-SEC FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM (COACHES)
Randle video >>> Rueben Randle Dominates (holyturf.com)
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