Answering the call: Randall Lawson’s journey to Lehigh football

Randall Lawson started playing football at age 5, never thinking he would play in college.

That is, until colleges began contacting him during his junior year of high school. The first school to extend him an offer was Bryant University.

“I was playing video games with my friend when the coach called me and told me they wanted to give me a full scholarship,” Lawson said. “It almost felt like a prank because it seemed too good to be true.”

From that point, Lawson knew football, at the very least, would be his means to a college education. He had never anticipated that it would bring him the opportunity to attend a prestigious school like Lehigh.

Defensive line coach Donnie Roberts, wearing his Patriot League rings, visited and recruited Lawson, telling him he could contribute to winning another one.

“Having won two championships in high school, that was almost enough right there for my commitment,” Lawson said. “Once my mom and I visited Lehigh and she learned about the academic aspect of Lehigh, that was enough for her commitment too.”

Since his freshman year debut with Lehigh football in an Oct. 20, 2012, win over Bucknell University, the now-senior defensive back has continued to make his mark as an integral part of the Lehigh football team.

As a sophomore, Lawson appeared in the season opener versus Central Connecticut State University. As a junior, Lawson saw time in eight games, starting the final six games at safety. He finished with 31 tackles and was credited with two pass breakups and two forced fumbles, including one that was returned for a touchdown against Cornell University. He also posted a career-high 13 tackles versus Fordham University.

Lawson recalls the team’s rough season last year as the lowest point in his career. He suffered a big loss when his stepmother passed away, which he said really put him in a slump.

“Two weeks before the first game, I left to be with my family during her last days,” he said. “I returned right after her funeral, which was the day before the first game against James Madison. Although we lost, being back with the guys certainly brought my spirits up.”

After the team’s 0-5 start, the coaches promoted Lawson to a starting role and the Mountain Hawks went on to win the next game against Cornell. Lawson recalls this as his highest moment athletically. For his first career start, Lawson had an impressive game, achieving the first forced fumble of his career, which resulted in a Lehigh touchdown. This furthered the coaches’ confidence in Lawson’s abilities.

Playing at Yankee Stadium was the experience of a lifetime for the then-junior.

“As an athlete, you dream of playing in that kind of environment and even though we didn’t win, it felt good to participate in a tradition as great as Lehigh-Lafayette,” he said.

With what could possibly be two weeks left in his football career, Lawson made it a point to soak up and appreciate the game, which, admittedly, he said he sometimes takes for granted. Participating in football and the Lehigh student athlete experience allowed him to build lasting friendships and learn valuable life lessons.

“Ran’s one of the most respected guys on our team,” said senior defensive back LaQuan Lambert, Lawson’s good friend. “He’s an extremely hardworking individual both on and off the football field, and his work ethic is definitely something others work to emulate.”

Lambert also spoke to Lawson’s character off the field, saying he brings a lot of energy to the locker room and is one of the funniest players on the team.

Teammate and senior wide receiver Stefan Sansone said Lawson also shows his leadership off the field. Lawson is an accounting major and plans to complete the 150 credits necessary to take the CPA exam.

“He also leads by example to the younger classes about work ethic in the classroom, where he excels,” Sansone said.

This season, Lawson has totaled 48 tackles this season, which is tied for fourth highest on the team. He also has two and a half tackles for loss.

“If we finish off these next two games with wins, we will be the Patriot League champions,” he said. “And it will be almost a storybook ending for us seniors.”