Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach / Defensive Line
- Email:
- tigers@memphis.edu
- Phone:
- 901-678-5119
Paul Randolph is in his third season on Mike Norvell’s Memphis staff as the defensive line coach. The two coaches are familiar with each other, having previously served together on staffs at Arizona State, Pittsburgh and Tulsa.
In his first two years in the Bluff City, Randolph helped develop one of the nation’s most opportunistic defensive units, forcing opponents to turn the ball over a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) second-best 60 times (29 in 2016; 31 in 2017). Last season’s 31 caused turnovers were tied for third nationally, and the 29 caused turnovers in 2016 were tied for fifth in the FBS.
Of the 60 caused turnovers, 28 were fumble recoveries (13 in 2016/15 in 2017), which is among the FBS’ top-five over the last two campaigns. In 2016, the 13 fumble recoveries were tied for sixth in FBS in 2016, and the 15 in 2017 were tied for fourth nationally.
Not only have the Tigers forced turnovers, they capitalized on the opponents’ miscues. Of the 60 turnovers by opponents the last two seasons, Memphis scored 33 times, including six defensive touchdowns (5 interception returns/1 fumble recovery). The defense also ranked in top-20 in FBS in turnover margin both seasons. In 2016, the Tigers were 18th nationally in turnover margin at +8. Last season, Memphis nearly doubled its turnover margin at +15, which was third in FBS. The +15 turnover margin is the Tigers’ best in the 21st century.
In 2017, Randolph had several obstacles to overcome with numerous injuries that led to young, inexperienced players seeing action much quicker than expected. Randolph, though, molded the defensive line into a unit that played a pivotal role in the team’s run to a 10-win season, The American West Division title and berths in The American Championship Game and AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Two of Randolph’s young linemen — redshirt freshman Joseph Dorceus and freshman O’Bryan Goodson — proved to be quick studies and made tremendous strides as the season progressed. Both Dorceus and Goodson were forced into leading roles due to injuries that ravaged the defensive front beginning with the 2017 season opener. Goodson topped all defensive linemen with 28 total tackles, and Dorceus, along with junior Emmanuel Cooper, led the group with five TFL. Cooper (27 tackles) and Dorceus (16) also posted double-digit tackles.
In 2016, two Randolph pupils – Jared Gentry and Jonathan Wilson – had solid seasons. Gentry doubled his tackle output from his freshman campaign (2015) to 2016. Wilson, in his freshman season, made eight starts and created havoc for opposing offenses. Wilson logged six TFL, three sacks, two PBU and two QB hurries. He also returned an interception 61 yards for a score.
At Arizona State, Randolph spent his first three seasons (2012-14) as the program’s associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. In those three campaigns, the Sun Devils posted a 28-12 overall record and a 19-8 Pac-12 Conference mark. The 2013 and 2014 teams had 10-win seasons, and the 2013 squad won the Pac-12 South crown. The Sun Devils earned bowl trips all three seasons and recorded victories in two of their postseason appearances.
In the three seasons, Randolph saw five of his defensive linemen earn All-Pac-12 honors a total of six times. Among those five honorees was defensive tackle Will Sutton, who was a 2012 consensus All-America selection and the 2012 and 2013 Pac-12 Conference Morris Trophy recipient as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Sutton was the Sun Devils’ first consensus All-America since 2007 and became only the third defensive lineman in Pac-12 Conference history to win consecutive Morris Trophies since league began awarding the honor in 1980. Four of his five All-Pac-12 performers were either drafted or signed free agent contracts with NFL squads.
Each of Randolph’s three seasons coaching the Arizona State defensive line saw one of his pupils lead the squad in sacks and TFL. Sutton led the Sun Devils in both sacks and TFL in 2012, and Marcus Hardison topped the defense in both statistical categories in 2014. Carl Bradford was the team leader in TFL in 2013 and shared the most-sacks honor that season with fellow lineman Davon Coleman.
In 2013, the Randolph-led Sun Devils defense was among the nation’s best and helped lead Arizona State to a 10-4 record, the Pac-12 South crown and a National University Holiday Bowl appearance. The Sun Devils were ranked in the national polls nine weeks in 2013, including the final seven weeks. Arizona State climbed as high as No. 11 in the Associated Press (AP) poll, the program’s highest ranking since the 1996 campaign.
Prior to Arizona State, Randolph spent the 2011 campaign at Pittsburgh, where he helped mold the Panthers defense into one of the country’s best. The 2011 Pittsburgh defense ranked nationally in sacks (3rd; 3.31 avg.), TFL (12th) and rushing defense (21st). The Panthers went 6-6 overall and 4-3 in the BIG EAST Conference and earned a BBVA Compass Bowl berth.
Randolph’s coaching path first crossed with Memphis when he worked with then-Conference USA foes Rice (2006) and Tulsa (2007-10). In his lone season at Rice, Randolph served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
