Dr. Thomas E. Randle High School senior Landen Williams-Callis has spent four years proving he belongs on the field. The running back, a quiet leader who rarely speaks unless he has something to say, has led the Lions to a record-setting run of success while piling up individual numbers that put him among the best in Houston history.
Williams-Callis recently became the Houston-area career touchdown leader, breaking a mark set by his cousin, Jacquizz Rodgers, of Lamar Consolidated. Rodgers held the record of 136 touchdowns since 2007. Now Williams-Callis is chasing a far bigger target: the state’s all-time rushing record.
Record Streak Since Freshman Year
Williams-Callis has been a force since he started as a freshman. Since then, the Lions are 45-3, a winning percentage that speaks for itself. The team’s record is part of what makes him special, but his individual numbers are the reason he leads the Houston-area conversation.
Last year, he set the single-season Houston-area touchdown record with 61. That number was the centerpiece of his junior campaign, and it announced him as a contender for the all-time ranks. This season, he went further.
Breaking the Career Touchdown Record
Last week, Williams-Callis broke the Houston-area career touchdown record. His cousin, Jacquizz Rodgers, had held that mark of 136 touchdowns since 2007. Now Williams-Callis has his own number, and it came through a steady accumulation of performances rather than a single breakout moment.
The fact that he reached it while still a senior means he has several games left to add to it.
Leadership That Speaks for Itself
Williams-Callis is not a loud presence in the locker room. He does not give long speeches about winning one for the Gipper. Instead, he lets his actions speak for him.
“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.”
That leadership style fits a player who prefers action to words. When he speaks, the message is simple: follow me, and we will move forward together.
Scoring Touchdowns Is Just Part of What He Does
Williams-Callis is a complete back. He can juke, use his speed, stiff-arm, and run over defenders with the power he brings to the field. Those skills combine to make him a difficult matchup for opposing defenses.
When asked about his approach to scoring, he described a process that starts before the snap. “I look at the defense before the play and then after that shot, I just go, whatever happens, happens,” he said.
The humility in that response is notable. Asked if he had a favorite touchdown, he answered quickly and honestly. “No, I don’t,” he said. When pressed by ABC13 sports producer Joe Gleason, he clarified: “Yeah, all of them.”
That answer tells you everything about his approach. Each touchdown is part of the same effort, not a separate highlight waiting to be replayed.
Coaching From the Sidelines
Williams-Callis has worked closely with his cousin to improve his game. Rodgers often offers advice when the game is over, sharing what he saw in the performance that just ended.
“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.”
That relationship is a working partnership between a young player and a veteran who knows the game inside out.
Chasing the State Record
With over 8,100 career rushing yards, Williams-Callis needs a little over 3,000 more to become the state’s all-time leading rusher. That number puts him in rare company, and it is a goal he has made clear he wants to reach.
“He loves to win, and he loves the game of football,” Coach Randle said. “It’s been a joy to watch.”
The path to the state record runs through the regular season. Every game carries yardage, and every touchdown moves him closer to the top of the all-time list. The Lions have already shown they know how to win, and Williams-Callis has proven he can pile up points along the way.
Commitment to the University of Texas
Williams-Callis has committed to the University of Texas. That commitment is part of his future plan.
The commitment adds context to his current season. He is playing with the weight of expectations, and he has answered every challenge so far with production.
The Road to the State Record
| Record | Holder | Year Set |
|---|---|---|
| Single-season Houston-area touchdowns | Landen Williams-Callis | Last year |
| Houston-area career touchdowns | Landen Williams-Callis | Recent |
| State all-time rushing yards | Not yet reached | In progress |
The record table shows the path clearly. The Lions have a record of winning behind him, and now he has a personal target to chase. The state record is the next step, and he has already shown he can break records when he sets his mind to it.
The Talent That Can’t Be Missed
Williams-Callis is a rare talent. He combines speed, power, and vision in ways that make him nearly impossible to stop. His ability to juke and stiff-arm, combined with his running power, makes him a threat from start to finish.
His quiet leadership is part of what makes him special. He leads by example rather than by speech, and the team follows him because they see what he does on the field.
The Legacy He Is Building
Williams-Callis is building a legacy that could last decades. Breaking a record that stood since 2007 is a statement, and chasing the state record puts him in the conversation with the best backs in Texas history.
The Lions have won consistently since he arrived, and his individual numbers support that success. He is a quiet leader who gets results, and that combination has produced a record-setting career so far.
The road to the state record runs through the regular season. Williams-Callis has already broken one record this season, and he has the talent to keep adding to his resume. The Lions have won at a rate few teams have matched, and his individual production has been the engine of that success.
Williams-Callis has proven he can win. He has proven he can score. He has proven he can lead. Now he is chasing the biggest number of all, and the Lions will be with him every step of the way.
Source material: “ABC13 Athlete of the Week: Randle HS running back is a rare talent racking up yards and records,” ABC13 Houston.
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