Robert Randolph’s big summer

For a kicker, the swimming pool would look like the worst imaginable spot to prep for an upcoming season.

Robert Randolph would disagree.

This summer, the sophomore placekicker logged as many hours in the water as he did on the turf field outside the McCue Center.

He hopes it helps.

“It works really well with resistance,” he said. “It was a way to build up leg strength.”

That was not the lone summer assignment for Randolph, a sophomore hopeful of securing all the kicking duties at Virginia.

He went to a pair of kicking schools, worked at others and landed an invite to an elite camp.

“There were only 40 kickers there and they were the best in the nation,” said Randolph, who made three field goals last year. “I tried to work on my form as much as I could and learn from the guys that were there.”

Kickers from Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas were among the standouts learning alongside Randolph.

What will it mean?

“I hope I can use that experience to win the job,” he said. “I am just trying to use the things that I learned to help me in camp.”

Randolph, battling sophomore Chris Hinkebein and freshman walk-on Drew Jarrett, has also leaned on the support of former Virginia kicker Chris Gould.

Since training camp opened, Gould has monitored and offered advice to Randolph and the kickers, but noted that he is using the experience to keep himself sharp if a professional opportunity arises.

“I am happy to help Robert out as much as I can,” Gould said. “I like what I have seen from all the kickers in camp and hopefully I can help in a small way.”

With last year under his belt, Randolph knows that the kicking job at Virginia can turn on a dime. That said, he has enjoyed battling for the top spot.

“It is a competition,” he said. “It makes me better, I know that. I just hope that I can come out on top.”