Randle hopes charitable ways inspire fellow UNLV athletes

By Ryan Greene

Monday, Dec. 28, 2009 | 4 p.m.

When new UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood recently talked in public forums about student-athletes getting out in the community more on his watch, Bradley Randle's ears perked up.

The UNLV running back, who redshirted this fall, always has been a charitable guy — a lesson handed down from within his family.

But now, the Murrieta, Calif., native hopes to be an ambassador of sorts within the athletic department.

Randle spent the days leading up to Christmas offering his time to the "Christmas in Compton" toy drive, which is put on by one of his older brothers.

Randle and his family joined another Compton native — rapper The Game — in handing out toys to youths at a Compton church Wednesday.

When he returns to campus Jan. 10 in time for the spring semester, Randle said his goal will be to keep things going on that front.

"We've already been doing it," he said. "But now it's just doing it more."

Randle, who was a cornerstone in last year's recruiting class, could have an elevated role on the field under new coach Bobby Hauck as spring football approaches. Hauck recruited Randle during the 5-foot-8, 190-pound back's decorated prep career at Vista Murrieta High, and Randle said he is looking forward to playing for the former Montana coach.

Randle also said he'll be taking some initiative off of the field, too. He plans to read to local youths and hopes to start a food drive for home games at Sam Boyd Stadium, where canned goods and non-perishable items would be collected at the gates.

"There's a lot of people who want to give," he added. "Little things can be a big thing for somebody else."