Keith Randolph Jr. (born September 1, 2001) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

defensive tackle A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that typically lines up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the Guard (American football), offensive guards; however, he may also line up opposite one of the offensive Tackle (gridir ...

for the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Illinois Fighting Illini The Illinois Fighting Illini () are the College athletics, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The university offers 10 men's and 11 women's Varsity team, varsity sports. The university op ...

Early life and high school

In Randolph's senior season, he notched 56 tackles with nine being for a loss, and seven sacks, while being named all-state. In high school, Randolph also played basketball, as he was a part of two state championship teams. Coming out of high school, Randolph held offers from schools such as Florida State, Colorado, Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota. Randolph decided to commit to play

for the

College career

In Randolph's first collegiate season, he played in the games making seven tackles with half a tackle going for a loss. In week one of the 2020 season, Randolph played 26 snaps notching four tackles versus

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

. Randolph finished the covid shortened 2020 season with eight tackles and a pass deflection. In week eleven of the 2021 season, Randolph recorded his first career interception which he returned 30 yards, as he helped the Fighting Illini beat Charlotte. In the 2021 season, Randolph tallied 42 tackles, with five and a half being for a loss, four sacks, a pass deflection, an interception, and a forced fumble. Randolph finished the 2022 season with 53 tackles with 13 going for a loss, four and a half sacks, a pass deflection, and an interception. For his performance in the 2022 season, Randolph was named third team all Big-10. Randolph entered the 2023 season as a team captain for the Fighting Illini. Randolph was also named to the 2023 preseason Outland Trophy watch list and the Nagurksi Award watch list. Randolph finished the 2023 season with 49 tackles with four being for a loss, a sack and a half, and a pass deflection. After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Randolph declared for the

2024 NFL draft The 2024 NFL draft was the 89th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft was held at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit on April 25–27, 2024. The draft had an attendanc ...

. Randolph finished his career as a Fighting Illini, playing in 42 games making 159 tackles with 23 going for a loss, ten sacks, six pass deflections, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Randolph signed with the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2024. He was waived on August 24.

Green Bay Packers

On January 14, 2025, Randolph signed a Reserve/Futures contract with the

References

External links

Illinois Fighting Illini bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Randolph Jr., Keith 2001 births Living people Players of American football from Illinois Belleville High School-West alumni American football defensive tackles Illinois Fighting Illini football players Chicago Bears players Green Bay Packers players