Kendall Randolph reveals why he chose to return for sixth year at Alabama

With the extra eligibility opportunities available after COVID essentially ruined a year of collegiate sports, Alabama offensive tackle Kendall Randolph is taking full advantage. Why not stick around in college for half-a-dozen years on the University’s dime while playing for maybe the greatest college football dynasty ever? Seems like a sweet deal.

But beyond enjoying the life of a college football player, Randolph is back with a larger team goal in mind. The only annual goal at Alabama: win the national championship. Which Randolph credited as a primary reason for returning when speaking to the media recently.

You can watch his comments at the very beginning of this video or read his fairly short answer below.

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“Oh I feel like last year — I feel like we could have, you know, went farther. And, you know, won the national championship. So, you know, that’s something that we’re going to start doing this year and those are our goals.”

Randolph is back for a sixth ride around the carousel in Tuscaloosa. Motivated by swapping spots with Georgia come this year’s College Football Playoff.

Randolph on being last player from 2017 class

And then there was Kendall Randolph. The extremely veteran Alabama offensive tackle is entering his sixth season of college football and is the the last remaining member of the Tide’s 2017 recruiting class. A class that produced an immense number of, not just NFL players, but really good starting players in the league. Such as Najee Harris, Xavier McKinney, Tua Tagovailoa, DeVonta Smith, Mac Jones and Jedrick Wills. That’s a heck of a class.

Alas, Randolph is the last vestige of that class in the ‘Bama locker room. A fact he was asked to reflect on at a recent press conference. The big fella spoke very highly of the class and the guys in it.

“You know, our 2017 class definitely was memorable. So, you know, being a part of that class and, you know, I definitely — I’m definitely happy to be a part of that class. You know, I still stay in contact with some of the guys and, you know, I’m glad they’re still able to do with it with the next level so it’s been outstanding.”

Randolph may not be on many draft boards yet, but perhaps a strong 2022 will earn him a shot at playing alongside so many of his former classmates. Either way, sounds like he’s just enjoying his time in college as an Alabama football player.