The spotlight came fast for Landen Williams-Callis. From a state title, two MVP awards, and a growing list of Division I offers – all before the start of his junior year.
But while the football world scrambled to learn his name, Williams-Callis never stopped being the same player Randle High has always known: dependable, driven, and dialed in.
“We aren’t going to let all the praise and accolades from last year get to our heads,” he said. “It’s back to work for us, and we won’t let any of the noise from the outside keep us from making another run to State.”
That kind of focus has defined both Williams-Callis and the Lions, who completed a perfect 16-0 campaign in 2024 – capped by a thrilling 38-35 win over South Oak Cliff to claim the school’s first-ever UIL State Championship. It was a crowning moment not only for the team, but for head coach Brian Randle, whose father, Dr. Thomas E. Randle, is the school’s namesake.
“It was unbelievable,” Williams-Callis said of the title win. “Honestly, it didn’t feel like we had won it at that moment. But once everything settled down for a second, we could all take it in and appreciate what we had done. I’ll never forget the celebration we had at the Airbnb afterwards.”
Williams-Callis was named the UIL 5A-DII State Offensive MVP and earned his second straight District MVP nod. With nearly 2,400 yards of total offense and 45 scores to his name, he was unquestionably the engine behind the Lions’ historic season – and remains at the heart of a program looking to do it all over again.
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The four-star recruit already holds offers from some of college football’s elite – Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame among them. But for now, the junior star is taking it in stride.
“I do my best to not take it for granted,” he said. “Of course, I’ve been enjoying all the attention, but I make sure that it doesn’t interfere with who I am and what my goals are. I don’t let it stress me out because I still have plenty of time before I make a decision.”
That level-headed approach didn’t happen by accident. It was shaped by faith and by family – both of which Williams-Callis credits for keeping him grounded.
“I’m a big family guy, so I can shout out just about everyone,” he said. “From my parents, to my cousins – James and Jacquizz Rodgers (former NFL RB) – and my grandma, whose name I got tattooed on my arm after she passed away. Of course, I know that God will get me through anything. I’ve been blessed, so I know that I can always call on Him to be there for me.”
Given that there are two years of eligibility still ahead and a legacy already in motion, Williams-Callis isn’t chasing noise. He’s chasing greatness – one carry, one season, one title at a time.