Charlton Finds New Family At MSU
September 22, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
Defensive end has found himself right at home on the field and off since joining the Bulldogs.
STARKVILLE – Randy Charlton was looking for a new start.
It was late last year when the defensive lineman was seeking a new school after playing the first three years of his career at UCF. As Charlton went through the process, he only had one real requirement.
"Going into the [transfer] portal, the only thing I was really looking for was another family," Charlton said. "I knew I'd get on the field and play hard and practice hard, but off the field, [I was looking for family]."
As it turned out, Charlton found exactly what he was looking for in Starkville, all wrapped in maroon and white. The Florida boy made a relatively quick decision that he was Mississippi bound and last December, announced to the world he was headed to MSU. It didn't take long at all for Charlton to realize he'd made the right choice.
"[Defensive line coach Jeff Phelps] helped me see when I came here that the Bulldogs were a family," Charlton said. "When I got here, I saw he was telling the truth. It's a family. Everybody talks to each other. Everybody hangs with each other off the field. It's a true family."
It's not hard to see Charlton has quickly become comfortable with his new surroundings. As Mississippi State prepares to open Southeastern Conference play on Saturday hosting LSU, Charlton stands as one of the stout MSU defense's most productive Bulldogs.
Charlton leads the team in quarterback hurries with three. He's racked up 11 total tackles, including a sack. Charlton is providing the Bulldogs precisely what they were hoping he would when they welcomed him into the fold.
"He brings a lot of experience and depth," Phelps said of Charlton back during preseason training camp. "He played for a great program, and he brings that same hunger and desire getting an opportunity to come play here. He's athletic, he's strong, and he's not as tall, so he's got that built-in leverage."
Says State head coach Mike Leach of Charlton: "He's pretty dynamic. He's a load in there. He's faster than you think he is."
With Charlton helping lead the way, State's defense continues to shine. The Bulldogs have been the beneficiary of six turnovers, which stands as the second-highest total in the SEC. MSU is fourth in the league in rush defense and State has been especially tough in the red zone, allowing opponents just a 60 percent conversion rate. That's the second-best mark in the league and the ninth-best among all Power Five programs.
State's defensive success is without a doubt a team effort, but a big contributor has certainly been the new family member, who's enjoying playing his part.
"I feel like I've stepped up as best as I can," Charlton said. "Going out and working with Coach Phelps and him pushing me, trying to make me a better player and make me a better leader – I feel like with his help, I've been doing good. We've just got to keep going."
The next step for Charlton and the Bulldogs comes on Saturday against the Tigers. Charlton has a little bit of extra motivation for this week's matchup.
Back on New Year's Day in 2019, Charlton's UCF squad was facing LSU in the Fiesta Bowl. Charlton was charged with a key penalty in the second quarter of the game that aided the Tigers as they came back to win the contest.
"That's definitely a moment in my career that I'd say scarred me," Charlton said.
It's nearly three full years later and Charlton is wearing different colors, but perhaps this weekend will give Charlton the opportunity to, in some way, make amends for his previous mistake.
"Everybody has those plays in their career that they think about," Charlton said. "Like, 'What if I didn't do that?' Or, 'What if this had happened?' Everybody has those plays, but it's just [you have to focus on the] next play."
So Charlton now sets his sights on the Tigers again. He does so with a band of brothers beside him. In fact, Charlton will have his new family all around him come Saturday. There'll be those teammates. There'll be the Bulldog faithful making noise inside Davis Wade Stadium. Charlton should be right at home in his new home.
Charlton wanted a family, and that's what he's found. Add another branch to the MSU family tree that includes Charlton, as well as those he's blood-related to.
"My mama loves it here," Charlton said. "She feels like it's a good place for me here in Starkville. She feels like I needed this. She feels like this is where I belong. Once she came – she drove up here with me once I first got here – she felt like this was a good place for me. She's been to all the games, but the first two home games, she loved the cowbells. My family came with them and they just loved Mississippi State. And I love it too."
