IU honors football star Randle El's No. 11 jersey

In the middle of his senior year, former IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El had no clue where his football career would take him after he graduated.\nTwo years later, Randle El stood in the middle of Assembly Hall holding up a framed No. 11 jersey in front of thousands of screaming fans.\n"It's a big honor and it's good to come back," Randle El said after being honored at half time of the men's basketball game Saturday. "I'm so grateful, and I thank God for everything I've had throughout college and even throughout high school. To go through college and play the way I played and now have my jersey retired, it's just such an honor and truly a blessing."\nRandle El is the only player in NCAA Division 1-A football history to pass for more than 7,000 yards and rush for more than 3,500 yards in his collegiate career. He finished his senior year of football at IU coming in sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2001.\nIU alum Tamia N. Collins was a member of the Marching Hundred while Randle El was a player for IU. She said she watched him play every weekend.\n"He was spectacular," she said. "He was a breath of fresh air for IU."\nRandle El concluded his time at IU with two big wins for the Hoosiers against Purdue and Kentucky. \nIn the spring of 2002, Randle El was a second round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers.\n"It's unbelievable right now," Randle El said. "It's been a big thrill for me to be in the NFL, but now I want to excel and I want to go far and beyond what I did in college, so I've got my work cut out for me."\nIn Randle El's first season under Steelers coach Bill Cowher, he caught 47 passes for 489 yards and had two touchdowns as a rookie. \nNow a receiver for the Steelers, Randle El said he misses playing quarterback and the Steelers are aware of that.\n"I can't focus on being quarterback until the chance presents itself," Randle El said. "And when it does, then I'll take full advantage of it, and make sure I'm ready for it."\nRandle El finished the 2003 season as the team's fourth-leading receiver with 37 catches, 364 yards and two touchdowns. His 132 punt return yards against Oakland were the highest single-game total in the league this season.\nNot only has Randle El had an impact on the IU and Pittsburgh football teams, but also in the lives of aspiring football players in his hometown of Riverdale, Ill.\nRiverdale resident and fan Myrna Watkins-Thompson said Randle El has returned to his hometown on occasion to give inspirational talks to kids at school and autograph footballs.\n"Many children saw him play at Thornton High School," Watkins-Thompson said. "They could see his progression which we use to inspire them to pursue their dreams."\nBut Antwaan might not be the last Randle El to go down in football history. Randle El said his brother Marcus has narrowed his playing choices down to three schools, and one of them is IU.\n"I told him to make sure his decision is for him," Randle El said of his advice to his younger brother. "Because (he is) the one that has to be here. So it's up to him right now."\nRandle El said he doesn't know what comes next for him and his time in Pittsburgh, but that he'll spend the off-season on a vigorous diet in order to prepare for a strenuous season with the Steelers.\nOn Saturday, he was only focused on enjoying the time at IU with his family.\n"To be here and have my family here, now that's something," Randle El said. "It was all a dream and it came true."\n--Contact staff writer Natalie A. Trout at natrout@indiana.edu.