Note: The following appears in the South Carolina football gameday program.
Playing the sport you love at the FBS level for a national brand like Clemson is a dream come true for all young athletes. Achieving that dream while playing alongside your brother is something very few have ever experienced. That is not the case for Austin Randall.
The senior cornerback from Myrtle Beach, S.C. is the older brother of Tiger junior wide receiver Adam Randall. From the backyard to Clemson, Randall gets to share the field with his younger brother on the biggest stage.
Playing college football was always the goal for Randall, taking after his father, who played at South Carolina State and coached him through high school. Having a little brother around always helped give him some added practice to reach that goal.
“It instilled that competitive fire and that competitive stamina in us, because a little brother always wants to beat you. It was always good competition, because he gave me his best effort every time.”
Randall originally walked on at Coastal Carolina and was a team member for three seasons before joining the Tigers as a walk-on in 2023. Even though Randall and his brother were playing at two different schools, he explained that not much changed once he joined the Tiger program.
“It’s honestly the same. It’s like being home in the backyard. When I was at Coastal Carolina, we would talk about stuff going on in our lives almost every day. So now, it is better to see what he goes through in person and be able to help him navigate through life.”
The brothers developed that tight bond from an early age, so it is no surprise that there is little change between the two, whether or not they are at the same school. As the older brother, he has made it a point to make sure that his younger brother is always prepared for the next steps in his football career.
“I was always trying to make sure that he’s coachable, because I learned the coaches are not going to accept any excuses. So being able to say ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’ and being able to take the coaching were the big things, because it can be crazy at this level.”
As a veteran on the team, the cornerback and special-teams contributor makes an effort to assist in any way possible and be a good role model for the younger players. After transferring to Clemson, Randall made it a point of emphasis to be extremely coachable and to lead by example from day one.
When reflecting on his favorite memory at Clemson, he shared the following.
“The Gator Bowl last year was a fun experience with my brother and teammates, and I was contributing a lot during the bowl game preparation. I was getting a lot of reps. And to go back to a five-star hotel and eat good meals with my brothers and get new gear, it was a great overall experience.”
Playing one of the more difficult positions in the sport has taught #35 a lot about life that he will take with him beyond his playing days.
“The biggest thing I learned is being able to handle adversity. Some days, everything goes perfectly, and then some days, it’s the opposite. Being a cornerback, you can be in great position and the receiver can still catch it with one hand. Sometimes you can’t do anything about it. Being able to come back, handle adversity and persevere is key.”
In a sport dominated by stats and highlights, his story is one of courage and resilience. Walking on at two schools is no easy task, and it shows the love and commitment he has to the sport.
Being able to share his college years with his brother is also something he cherishes and does not take for granted. The experience of playing the game he loves alongside his younger brother is something that Randall will carry with him well after his playing days.
