TheHoosier.com caught up with Indiana football legend Antwaan Randle El at the new BTN Tailgate show on Saturday prior to IU's kickoff against No. 10 Nebraska.

The 2001 first team All-American was the first NCAA Division 1 player to score over 40 career passing touchdowns and 40 career rushing touchdowns, and he was drafted out of Indiana in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also played basketball and baseball for the Hoosiers.

TH: So what's Antwaan Randle El up to these days?

Randle El: "I'm at a high school that was started four years ago, it's called Virginia Academy in Ashburn, Virginia. I had a big hand in helping start it and getting it going. We have our first graduating class coming up so I'm very excited about that. We have some stellar Division 1 basketball players - one is going to Vanderbilt - and another is going to play overseas because we have international kids on the team. Then we have some local kids that are going to FDU. It's a pretty good squad.

"It's a Christian school, so we're able to teach kids about Christ - no strings attached, so I love that part. And then they get a great education. I also run a foundation that helps underserved youth across the country, some of that is international. Some of those are guys that are on the basketball team, I've been able to bring them over and put them with a good family that takes care of them and give them an opportunity to play ball."

TH: Now are you coaching at the school?

Randle El: "I coached for the first two years. I have a wife and six kids so I was like 'Ah, I kind of need to wait on this a bit.' My youngest is two years old now, so I may start getting back into it. I really want to coach basketball a little bit more so we'll see how that goes."

TH: You're raising your kids to be Hoosiers I assume?

Randle El: "*Laughs* I am. If I had my way, all my kids would be here. I still want to let them choose and make their decision though. I have a son that went down to Bryant University, Marty Fine who was my tight end coach and did some of our offensive coordinating when I was here, he's the head coach down there now. So he got to play for him a couple years. Now I have my 15-year-old girl coming through high school, I'm like 'come on babe, go to Indiana!' But we'll see how it works out."

TH: How closely do you still follow the program?

Randle El: "I follow it all the time. Always seeing what's new and what's going on, watching the games and everything. I have a schedule so I mark my dates when I try to come in. When I do come in, I try to make sure I hit everything, so like this weekend with Homecoming - I played basketball, football and baseball when I was here - and today we've got football game, basketball practice and an alumni baseball game. I'm trying to hit everything, it's been great."

TH: So how do you feel about where the program is at now?

Randle El: "They're progressing. And that's what you want to see. I like a lot of the progression they had last year. They got beat by Duke in the bowl game, but at the same time they're progressing. You see them this year, they're so close. They just have to continue to work at it and make some big plays. Get an interception against Ohio State with six minutes to go in the game, we have to score. That changes the whole game. But they're on the cusp of turning this thing around big time, and Kevin Wilson and his staff has done a great job, so you have to give them credit."

TH: What are your thoughts on this crowd and this Big Ten tailgating show?

Randle El: "The Big Ten being out here and the new additions to the stadium, the new additions to Assembly Hall, this is just great man. The Big Ten tailgate, I think we've had the best turnout they've had so far, so that's really great to see."