"It's an inexact science, but our saying is we recruit character and potential," Gilmore said. "When we looked at Dominic Randolph, we saw an awful lot of both."

Randolph, Football Championship Subdivision's active leader in total offense, will lead the Crusaders at Villanova on Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs. It is Holy Cross' first postseason berth since 1983 and its second ever.

Randolph was a backup in high school and ignored by major college programs. But in four years at Holy Cross, the 6-3, 223-pound senior quarterback has rewritten school record books and drawn a steady stream of NFL scouts to the Worcester, Mass., campus.

"There is no question in my mind that Dominic has a chance to play on Sunday (in the NFL)," said Holy Cross athletics director Dick Regan, a former executive with the New England Patriots and NFL Europe. "With the right team in the right situation, he could really flourish."

Randolph started twice at quarterback while at St. Xavier High in Cincinnati. Stuck behind Ohio State recruit Rob Schoenhoft, Randolph played wide receiver.

Schoenhoft's career never took off in Columbus. He transferred to Delaware and eventually left the sport because of repeated concussions. Randolph chose Holy Cross after a one-day visit sold him on the school's mix of athletics and academics.

"Holy Cross offered more of an academic world than many (larger) schools," Randolph said. "I saw it as the best of two worlds."

Gilmore's best-case scenario had Randolph eventually competing for the quarterback job. If that didn't pan out, he could play wide receiver.

But after sitting out his freshman season with an ankle injury, Randolph took charge during spring drills. Holy Cross was shifting to more of a spread attack that fit Randolph perfectly.

"From the first time he got on the field he performed at an extremely high level," Gilmore said.

In four years Randolph has become the school's most celebrated football player since running back Gordie Lockbaum was third in the 1987 Heisman Trophy race.

Randolph has thrown for more than 13,000 yards and 114 touchdowns, run for 779 yards and 15 TDs and is a strong candidate for the Walter Payton Award as the outstanding offensive player in FCS. He owns FCS marks with 41 consecutive games with a TD pass and 40 consecutive 200-yard passing games.

"He is their football team," Villanova coach Andy Talley said. "I know he is very highly rated by NFL scouts, and he's the rock they've built their program on."

Randolph, whose dad, Charles, was on the Michigan team that played in the 1976 Orange Bowl, is flattered by the attention but said he's more excited about guiding Holy Cross (9-2, 5-1 Patriot League) to the playoffs. In his first three seasons the Crusaders fell a game short of the league title each time, losing three key games by a total of five points.

"Being my last year and finally taking that next step is very gratifying," he said. "It's amazing how fast the four years have gone and now to be in this position is really exciting."

Randolph has been a mainstay of the team's work with the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters, serving as team liaison and mentor to an 11-year-old boy.

"I never had a brother (he has two sisters), and it's neat to have some influence on a little kid," Randolph said. "Spending time with him puts a lot of things into clearer focus."

Randolph is on course to get a degree in economics and said he has an offer from General Electric after he graduates.

"But playing on Sunday has always been my dream," he said. "I've worked as hard as I can for that. If it doesn't work out, Holy Cross has prepared me for life in the real world."

Enlarge By Paul Kapteyn, AP Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph, the active FCS leader in total offense, looks to rack up the yards when the Crusaders play at Villanova Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs.