ABC13 Athlete of the Week: Randle HS running back is a rare talent racking up yards and records

When Dr. Thomas E. Randle High School senior running back Landen Williams-Callis is on the field, he can't help but stand out.

"I'm an all-around back," Williams-Callis said. "I can juke, use my speed, stiff-arm, run you over with the power I got."

He's a quiet leader that doesn't say much.

"He says what needs to be said," Randle HS head coach Brian Randle said. "He's not going to get up there and do some long speech, win one for the Gipper or anything like that. He's going to say ya'll follow me and we're going to roll, and that's pretty much what we do."

Since Williams-Callis started as a freshman, the Lions are 45-3.

"It's not okay to lose," he said. "You always want to go win and be the best in anything you do."

Besides winning, one of the things Williams-Callis has been really good at is scoring touchdowns.

"I look at the defense before the play and then after that shot, I just go, whatever happens, happens," he said.

Last year, he set the single-season Houston-area touchdown record with 61.

"Do you have a favorite touchdown out of all of them?" ABC13 sports producer Joe Gleason asked.

"Yeah, all of them," Williams-Callis responded.

Last week, he broke the Houston-area career touchdown record.

His cousin, Jacquizz Rodgers , of Lamar Consolidated had held the record of 136 touchdowns since 2007.

Williams-Callis has worked closely with his cousin to improve his game. Often getting advice when the game is over.

"Just coaching me and training me on anything I do wrong," he said. "After every game he'll tell me what I did wrong, and I can use that knowledge to take it to the field or the next practice and work on it."

Landen's sights are set on the next record. With over 8,100 career rushing yards, he needs a little over 3,000 more to become the state's all-time leading rusher.

"He loves to win, and he loves the game of football," Coach Randle said. "It's been a joy to watch."