Sophomore Buck Randall is making Highland Park history. 

Randall is the first sophomore quarterback to start since 2005. Randall’s football career began in his childhood, heavily influenced by encouragement from coaches. 

“I attended summer camps that were run by Coach Allen for incoming fifth to ninth graders,” Randall said. “They inspired me and mentioned that I had a chance to start pretty early in high school.”

This early motivation in his life led to his desire for the starting quarterback position. As the starting quarterback, Randall says he is acutely aware of the significant role he plays in the team’s dynamics.

“Everyone looks at the quarterback because everything revolves around me during games and practices,” he said. 

This recognition of his central position translates into a commitment to maintain a positive attitude on the field. 

“If I’m up and excited, getting everybody else motivated, and even if we’re down, it matters,” Randall said. “If they see me down, they’re gonna be down, but if they see that I’m motivated, they’re gonna follow.” 

Randall says that preparation is key, especially when it comes to managing pre-game nerves. His routine before games consists of studying plays and analyzing opponent film. 

 “The way you combat being nervous before a game is being prepared,” Randall said.

In addition to physical preparation, he emphasizes mental grounding. 

“A lot of it for me just takes a couple of deep breaths before the game,” Randall said. “I like to minimize the situation.” 

During critical plays, though, Randall doesn’t rely on memorized plays or opponent film. Instead, he focuses on his training and instinct. 

“Whatever the play is, I just think about my first read,” Randall said. “If something happens, like a play breaks down, I just do what I’m coached to do.”

Randall also highlights the importance of chemistry with his teammates, particularly the offensive line and receivers, as they are who he interacts with most on the field

“When everything kind of breaks down in the game, chemistry is what keeps us together,” he said. “If I’m throwing to one of my receivers, and he doesn’t know where I’m going to throw it, we won’t have that chemistry, and it’s not going to work.” 

Off the field, Randall draws inspiration from his family, particularly his grandfather, a former tight end at TCU. 

“He has all these trophies, and just being around that really inspired me,” Randall said. 

Despite the great influence football holds in his life, Randall says that he doesn’t rest his entire self within football.

“I just don’t make football my entire life because it’s not really where my identity is,” he explained. “I keep my identity in Christ, and that levels everything for me.”

Coach Grayson Wells says he has high expectations for Randall’s future and his potential as a leader. He described Randall as calm and composed, a quality often lacking in younger quarterbacks. 

“He doesn’t get too down if things don’t go well,” Wells said. “And he doesn’t get overly excited when we do well, for him it’s just back to work.” 

As the season progresses, both teammates and coaches recognize Randall’s growing leadership skills. 

“He’s accepted his role well,” Wells said. “His leadership will really start to blossom as he gets older.” 

This sentiment was echoed by teammate Jack Morse, who mentioned, “He’s always encouraging the O-line and defense, just a positive voice in the locker room.” 

 Randall’s ability to stay calm during high-pressure situations has not gone unnoticed.

“He seems calm even when the stakes are high,” Morse said, “He lives in the moment.” 

Randall’s commitment to preparation and teamwork positions him as a role model for younger players and his teammates alike. In addition to his on-field responsibilities, Randall enjoys a range of activities outside of football. 

“I like hanging out with friends, playing golf, and just enjoying life outside of football,” Randall said.

This well-rounded approach helps him maintain perspective and stay focused on his goals. With a supportive network of teammates and coaches, the future looks bright for both him and the HP Football Team. As he takes on the challenges of the season, Randall’s journey is one to watch, and he aims to leave a lasting impact on the program.

“It’s not the end of the world if a game doesn’t go my way,” Randall said. “In the end, I’m just gonna go out and have fun.”