Bryan Randall
Bryan Jemar Randall (born August 16, 1983) is an American football coach and former quarterback. He has served as the quarterbacks coach for the William & Mary Tribe since February 2025.[1] Randall played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies from 2001 to 2004, appearing in 35 games and setting school records for career passing yards (6,508) and total offense (8,034). As a senior in 2004, he led the team to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a victory in the Sugar Bowl.[2] After going undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft, Randall signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent and spent time on the practice squads of the Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He later played professionally in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and in arena football leagues, including an MVP season in 2010 with the Richmond Revolution of the Indoor Football League, where he threw for over 2,000 yards and 58 touchdowns.[1][2]Early years
Childhood and family background
Bryan Jemar Randall was born on August 16, 1983, in Charleston, West Virginia.[3] He grew up in a family deeply involved in athletics, as the son of Edgar Randall, a former standout basketball player at West Virginia State University who later coached men's and women's basketball there, and Belinda Randall.[4][5] His older brother, Brandon, also pursued basketball, eventually playing at Hampton University.[4] The Randall family resided in West Virginia during Edgar's coaching tenure, where the young Bryan was first exposed to competitive sports. At age four, his father enrolled him in a basketball camp, sparking an early passion for athletics amid the family's emphasis on discipline, education, and physical activity.[6] In 1993, when Bryan was ten years old, the family relocated to the Williamsburg area in Virginia to care for Edgar's ailing father following a stroke, a move that immersed Randall in local youth sports leagues and nurtured his growing interest in football through community encouragement and familial support.[7]High school career
Bryan Randall attended Bruton High School in Williamsburg, Virginia, graduating in 2001. During his high school years, he excelled as a dual-threat quarterback and safety on the football team, earning all-state honors for his versatility and leadership. As a junior in 1999, Randall became the first player in Virginia high school history to surpass 1,000 yards both rushing and passing in a single season, a feat he repeated as a senior in 2000.[8][9] In his senior year, Randall threw for 1,301 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 1,012 yards and 14 scores during the regular season, powering the Panthers to a 7-4 record. In their playoff game, a 42-21 loss to Southampton, he accounted for all three of Bruton's touchdowns. He was named Region I Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the Associated Press Group AA Player of the Year, recognizing his impact on both sides of the ball. These accomplishments highlighted his ability to lead a small-school program to competitive success in the Bay Rivers District.[10][11][9] To enhance his speed and conditioning for football, Randall competed on the track team during his senior spring, anchoring Bruton's 4x400-meter relay squad to a Group AA state championship with a gold-medal performance. His standout senior season drew widespread college recruitment interest, positioning him as the top-rated player in Virginia and leading to his commitment to Virginia Tech.[12][13][14]College career
Virginia Tech Hokies
Bryan Randall joined the Virginia Tech Hokies as a highly rated quarterback recruit in 2000, redshirting his freshman season to develop behind established players.[4] In 2001, as a redshirt freshman, he served as the backup to starter Grant Noel, appearing in eight games and gaining valuable experience in the Big East Conference.[2] Randall's opportunity to start came in 2002 after Noel's injury in the season opener against LSU, prompting him to take over as quarterback for the remainder of the year. He started the final 12 games, providing steady leadership that helped the Hokies compile a 10-4 record. The season concluded with a 20-13 victory over Air Force in the San Francisco Bowl, where Randall's poise in managing the offense proved crucial to the win.[4][2] In 2003, Randall retained the starting role amid competition from redshirt freshman Marcus Vick, starting all 13 games despite occasional shared snaps and contributing to an 8-5 finish. His dual-threat capabilities—blending passing accuracy with effective rushing—became a hallmark, allowing the Hokies to maintain a balanced attack even as the team navigated challenges.[15][2] Randall's senior season in 2004 represented his most prominent contributions, as he started all 13 games during Virginia Tech's inaugural year in the Atlantic Coast Conference following the program's transition from the Big East. Leading a potent offense, he guided the Hokies to a 9-2 regular-season record and their first ACC Championship with a 16-10 victory over Miami, highlighted by key throws that exploited the Hurricanes' secondary. The team advanced to the Sugar Bowl, where Randall orchestrated a competitive effort in a narrow 16-13 loss to Auburn, underscoring his growth as a versatile leader who adapted the team's run-pass option schemes to the conference's competitive demands.[4][16][2]Statistics and awards
During his four seasons at Virginia Tech from 2001 to 2004, Bryan Randall compiled impressive statistics as a dual-threat quarterback, appearing in 48 games. He completed 490 of 833 passes for 6,508 yards, achieving a 58.8% completion rate with 48 passing touchdowns and 31 interceptions, while adding 1,526 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns for a total of 59 touchdowns responsible for. These figures underscored his versatility and leadership in Virginia Tech's offense.[2][17] Randall's passing performance evolved year by year, with his senior season marking a peak in productivity. The following table summarizes his passing statistics:| Year | Games | Completions-Attempts | Completion % | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8 | 12-34 | 35.3 | 114 | 0 | 1 | 57.6 |
| 2002 | 14 | 158-248 | 63.7 | 2,134 | 12 | 11 | 143.1 |
| 2003 | 13 | 150-245 | 61.2 | 1,996 | 15 | 10 | 141.7 |
| 2004 | 13 | 170-306 | 55.6 | 2,264 | 21 | 9 | 134.5 |
| Career | 48 | 490-833 | 58.8 | 6,508 | 48 | 31 | 134.5 |