Randy Crowder

Randolph Channing Crowder Sr. (July 30, 1952 – May 20 2025) was an American professional football player who was a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons with the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, earning first-team All-American honors in 1973. Crowder was selected by the Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL draft.

Early life and college Crowder attended Farrell High School, starring in football, basketball, and track. He received All-American honors in football and all-state recognition in basketball. Farrell won the state championship Crowder's senior year and while many colleges wanted him to play basketball he opted to play college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Crowder began college playing tight end, but then was converted to defense, where he thrived recording 173 tackles over his last two seasons.

Pro career Crowder was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL draft. Nine other of his Penn State teammates were selected.

As a rookie, Crowder played sporadically, but in 1975 he started 11 games and notched 7.5 sacks, while leading Miami linemen with 95 tackles (53 unassisted). Legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula said Crowder "might be the quickest tackle in the league." in August 1978. He saw action in 14 games in 1978 while he played himself back into shape. ending his NFL career.

Arrest On May 4, 1977, Crowder and his Dolphins teammate Don Reese, were arrested after trying to sell of cocaine to an undercover policeman. On August 10, they both pleaded no contest and were each sentenced to a year in jail. Following their releases, each resumed their pro football careers.

Coaching career After retiring from the NFL, Crowder joined his college coach Joe Paterno's staff as the defensive line coach at Penn State University for two years before moving into private business in the Tampa area. one of whom is former Dolphins linebacker and sports radio host Channing Crowder.