Interview: Texas 2017 WR Sam Crawford is So Good He’ll Score on You and Then Take Your Cleats

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

There was little opposing Texas high school defenses could do to stop Sam Crawford during the 2015 season even when facing top recruiting talent. He was too big and strong for press coverage, listed at 6-1, 193, and too fast for most corners to keep up with even with a 10-15 yard cushion burning hopefuls down the seam and in the post continuously. Crawford exploited defenses for 1,459 yards off 77 receptions finding the end zone 15 times helping Rockwall to a 10-4 record last season.

Yellowjackets head coach Rodney Webb found other ways to get Crawford into the mix on offense giving him 23 carries that turned into 263 yards with three scores primarily off reverses and end-arounds. Crawford even got into the kick return game some taking five back for a total of 94 yards.

Crawford’s folklore took another step forward when Rockwall played Sachse High School in Game 7 of the 2015 season. Sachse had highly touted 4-star Class of 2016 cornerback Jared Mayden locking receivers down. Mayden was so confident in his abilities he set out a challenge that no one could beat him for a touchdown during his senior season. The eventual Alabama signee even put his Nike The Opening camp cleats on the line. Simple enough – you beat Mayden, you get his cleats. Crawford beat Mayden and got his cleats. Crawford took it a step further getting another touchdown against Sachse, albeit not against Mayden, but helped the Yellowjackets defeat the Mustangs 58-47.

Interest is building in Crawford with Houston, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Purdue, SMU, Texas Tech, UCLA, and Texas showing various signs of curiosity. Offers have come in from Holy Cross and South Florida with teams like Arizona State, West Virginia, and Louisiana-Monroe jumping into the interest mix more recently.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Crawford to talk about his outstanding junior season, his offseason camp and workout schedule, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Sam, looking back on your junior season, were you pleased with the way you played individually?

“Yes, for the most part. I could have done better but it was a pretty good season.”

Which game was your best game last season and why was that game your best?

“My best game – I’d say was against Sachse because the whole Jared Mayden thing plus that was our homecoming game. I played well in all aspects in that game. Jared Mayden was a top corner in Texas going to Alabama. On Twitter he was saying no one can score on him. If someone did he would give his Opening cleats to whoever beat him. Second play of the game I scored on him.”

Did he give you his cleats?

“Yeah.”

Was he cool about it?

“Yeah, he was cool about it.”

How did you do the rest of that game against him?

“Most of the time he was on the other side, but I did score again in that game but not on him.”

What individual honors did you earn at the end of your junior season?

“I was first team All-District, second team All-Area, and honorable mention All-State.”

What were some of the gains you made as a wide receiver from your sophomore year to your junior season?

“From my sophomore year to my junior year, I got a lot bigger and faster. My routes got better. I was better overall. My sophomore year we had (running back) Chris Warren (Texas). I had a big role then but did not have to do as much. My junior year, I worked on every aspect of my game and got better.”

What are some of the things that you are working on now to improve upon for your senior year?

“I’m working on my hips and my zig and slant routes. I ran a lot of screens and posts routes last year. Now I’m working on curls and change of direction routes.”

What kind of drills are you doing?

“A lot of cone drills and squats.”

What is the best time you’ve posted in the 40-yard dash?

“The best I’ve ran was a 4.47 hand-held. I have not run a laser timed 40 since my freshman year.”

What time are you aiming to put down at some of the upcoming camps you may attend?

“I’m hoping to get around a 4.5.”

Will your role with the Yellowjackets expand next season? You talked about the different routes but will you line up at different positions?

“You’ll see me in the Wild Cat at quarterback, at running back, on the outside and inside at wide receiver, and maybe at free safety depending on our team needs.”

What camps are you planning on hitting this offseason?

“I’m planning on hitting up SMU, Texas State, Nebraska, UTSA (Texas-San Antonio), Houston, all in-state camps, other than that I have nothing planned.”

I noticed you left out some of the bigger D-I schools in-state like Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, and TCU.

“Those schools have been recruiting other players. I’m going to the schools that are showing recruiting interest in me. I want to camp at a school where I have a real chance to get a scholarship offer.”

Which schools are showing the most recruiting interest in you right now?

“I have offers from Holy Cross and South Florida. ULM (Louisiana-Monroe), West Virginia, and Arizona State have started contacting me.”

Did you take an unofficial to Texas?

“I did.”

How did that go?

“It was cool. My parents love Texas. They wanted to go more than I did.”

What unofficial visits do you have planned coming up?

“I’m planning on going to South Florida sometime this spring, Texas State, and ULM. Other than that, I’ll go with the flow.”

What are the main factors that are important to you when you look at the various colleges?

“Honestly, education is biggest. I don’t plan to play pro ball, the odds are I won’t. I want to get the best education I can get. I want to be at a fun place with a nice campus that have good coaches. I want to play with kids I can get along with.”

Is there a college or NFL player you like to watch play the game at the wide receiver position?

“I love Corey Coleman (Baylor) and Jarrison Stewart (TCU).”

Are you playing any spring sports for Rockwall?

“I’m running track.”

Which events?

“The 4×2, 4×1, and the open 100.”

What time are you aiming for in the 100 this year?

“Something around 11.1.”

How are things going in the classroom?

“I have a 4.2 GPA on a 5.0 scale.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I took the ACT and got a 20, but I am retaking it to get a better score.”

What do you want to major in while in college?

“Business.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“The friends you make and the experience that comes with it. Friday nights are so fun. You make friends that will last forever.”

Sam, thanks for your time today and good luck with all the upcoming camps.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Crawford family; Sam Crawford at Texas.

Photo credit: scout.com; Sam running drills.

Photo credit: dailynews.com; No. 9 Sam Crawford scores on No. 3 Jared Mayden.