Graham Feature: Crawford Lending a Voice
3/20/2018 1:34:00 PM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Jonathan Crawford gestured toward fellow safety Khalil Bryant, then went over for a quick word, before the snap.
It was the first day of full-pads work for Indiana's football team this spring. But Crawford's approach to the game had already sprung.
Up a notch.
"Jon's more talkative than some might think," former teammate Rashard Fant said while watching from the Mellencamp Pavilion sidelines. "He won't have any problem leading in that way."
Graduated cornerback Fant is downright loquacious by nature compared to Crawford. So are fellow graduates Tony Fields and Chase Dutra, who shared time at the starting safety post opposite Crawford in 2017.
On-field communication is key to any successful secondary. And Crawford, heading into his senior campaign next fall, is by far IU's most experienced player in that unit.
So. Time to talk.
"Jon is kind of quiet and didn't really have to (lead) in the past, but he has to, now," IU head coach and defensive coordinator Tom Allen said last week. "He has to run the whole secondary. He's ready for that and has to do that.
" … He cares about this team and knows he has to do it, and he's doing a great job. I'm not surprised, but he's risen to the expectations, for sure."
Rising to and exceeding expectations has characterized Crawford's entire Indiana career, during which he has started all 38 games, as he mainly let his play do his talking.
Crawford was ESPN.com and BTN.com Big Ten All-Freshman after leading the Hoosiers in interceptions with four (3rd most for a rookie in program history) and second on the team in tackles during an inaugural campaign that culminated in a New Era Pinstripe Bowl appearance.
As a sophomore in 2016, Crawford led IU in takeaways (with his 4 fumble recoveries leading the Big Ten) – including all three Hoosier takeaways in an Old Oaken Bucket victory over Purdue. He forced and recovered a fumble in the Foster Farms Bowl against Utah.
Named honorable mention All-Big Ten for the second straight season last fall, he posted a career-high 11 tackles in the win at Virginia and generally continued his career's upward arc.
Now Crawford is, technically, just one of three starters returning for IU's defense in 2018.
But he sees veteran backups such as junior Bryant hungry for a chance to step to the forefront. He sees former starters back from injury – such as defensive end Nile Sykes, Husky back Marcelino Ball and cornerback A'Shon Riggins.
"Yeah, some guys have played (who aren't listed as starters)," Crawford said. "Others might not have had a lot of snaps but they've been here and know the system. We have more experience than people think. And, really, we look pretty good."
There is a definite emphasis on youth with this team, though.
Among the 89 players on IU's spring roster – listed by their 2018 class eligibility, with walk-ons included – there are 17 seniors, 21 juniors, 23 sophomores and 28 freshmen. So there are a combined 51 players with at least three years of eligibility remaining heading into next fall.
Safety prospects Juwan Burgess and Bryant Fitzpatrick are among the redshirt freshmen who've already caught Crawford's eye.
"Juwan reminds me of myself," said Crawford, who like Burgess is over 6-foot with a rangy build by safety standards. "Always flying around. Knows where the ball is.
"Fitzy, he's a come-down hitter. That's what he wants to do and he knows his role. He could move around (and possibly play Husky). As long as he understands what he's doing and keeps playing physical, he could move around. Juwan is more laid back and Fitz is more outgoing, but they both always
keep a smile on their face. They're good people."
Crawford knows what it's like to play as a freshman, to take the field even while one's head is spinning a bit. When he talks to his youthful teammates, he reminds them to have some fun.
"It's fun," Crawford said. "That's the main thing I'm going for, just making it more fun for myself and the young guys. It can get hard for them, but as long as they understand that it's for a good reason and for a good future.
"Given the fact they haven't practiced for so long, watching them practice (now), they're ready … they were really eager to get back and hungry about what they want to do. The fact that they're hungry makes everything easier and better."
Crawford also sees plenty of hunger from new safeties coach Kasey Teegardin – who after spending three years as a graduate assistant and one year as director of on-campus recruiting for the Hoosiers now gets a full-time coaching gig.
Former safety Fields (2014-17), the lone player in program history to play in 50 games, spoke for a lot of folks in the defensive backs room in welcoming Teegardin's promotion.
"From day one being around Coach Teegardin, I knew that he was a great coach and deserved an opportunity to show what he could do," Fields said in a press release announcing Teegardin's appointment. "Coach has always been someone who the players could trust and has always been a reliable source when it comes to football questions."
Crawford was both reassured and fired up about Teegardin's elevation.
"It's my last year, so I wanted a coach who I knew and was comfortable with," Crawford said. "I want to go out with a bang. So having Coach Teegardin come in helped me feel more comfortable and to come in ready for the spring.
"We're family. Brotherhood. And I feel we're hungry. We have a lot of young guys who want to win a lot of games here. As long as the older guys set the standard well, we have a good future."
Crawford has always set a good standard.
And his play has spoken volumes.
But now he's more ready to lend his voice. And pleased to do so.
"Honestly, I don't think it'll be tough for me, because it's also something I want," he said. "Maybe it was something I wasn't comfortable with (it would be tough), but now I understand the situation and what I have to do and, to me, it's going to come easy."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Jonathan Crawford gestured toward fellow safety Khalil Bryant, then went over for a quick word, before the snap.
It was the first day of full-pads work for Indiana's football team this spring. But Crawford's approach to the game had already sprung.
Up a notch.
"Jon's more talkative than some might think," former teammate Rashard Fant said while watching from the Mellencamp Pavilion sidelines. "He won't have any problem leading in that way."
Graduated cornerback Fant is downright loquacious by nature compared to Crawford. So are fellow graduates Tony Fields and Chase Dutra, who shared time at the starting safety post opposite Crawford in 2017.
On-field communication is key to any successful secondary. And Crawford, heading into his senior campaign next fall, is by far IU's most experienced player in that unit.
So. Time to talk.
"Jon is kind of quiet and didn't really have to (lead) in the past, but he has to, now," IU head coach and defensive coordinator Tom Allen said last week. "He has to run the whole secondary. He's ready for that and has to do that.
" … He cares about this team and knows he has to do it, and he's doing a great job. I'm not surprised, but he's risen to the expectations, for sure."
Rising to and exceeding expectations has characterized Crawford's entire Indiana career, during which he has started all 38 games, as he mainly let his play do his talking.
Crawford was ESPN.com and BTN.com Big Ten All-Freshman after leading the Hoosiers in interceptions with four (3rd most for a rookie in program history) and second on the team in tackles during an inaugural campaign that culminated in a New Era Pinstripe Bowl appearance.
As a sophomore in 2016, Crawford led IU in takeaways (with his 4 fumble recoveries leading the Big Ten) – including all three Hoosier takeaways in an Old Oaken Bucket victory over Purdue. He forced and recovered a fumble in the Foster Farms Bowl against Utah.
Named honorable mention All-Big Ten for the second straight season last fall, he posted a career-high 11 tackles in the win at Virginia and generally continued his career's upward arc.
Now Crawford is, technically, just one of three starters returning for IU's defense in 2018.
But he sees veteran backups such as junior Bryant hungry for a chance to step to the forefront. He sees former starters back from injury – such as defensive end Nile Sykes, Husky back Marcelino Ball and cornerback A'Shon Riggins.
"Yeah, some guys have played (who aren't listed as starters)," Crawford said. "Others might not have had a lot of snaps but they've been here and know the system. We have more experience than people think. And, really, we look pretty good."
There is a definite emphasis on youth with this team, though.
Among the 89 players on IU's spring roster – listed by their 2018 class eligibility, with walk-ons included – there are 17 seniors, 21 juniors, 23 sophomores and 28 freshmen. So there are a combined 51 players with at least three years of eligibility remaining heading into next fall.
Safety prospects Juwan Burgess and Bryant Fitzpatrick are among the redshirt freshmen who've already caught Crawford's eye.
"Juwan reminds me of myself," said Crawford, who like Burgess is over 6-foot with a rangy build by safety standards. "Always flying around. Knows where the ball is.
"Fitzy, he's a come-down hitter. That's what he wants to do and he knows his role. He could move around (and possibly play Husky). As long as he understands what he's doing and keeps playing physical, he could move around. Juwan is more laid back and Fitz is more outgoing, but they both always
keep a smile on their face. They're good people."
Crawford knows what it's like to play as a freshman, to take the field even while one's head is spinning a bit. When he talks to his youthful teammates, he reminds them to have some fun.
"It's fun," Crawford said. "That's the main thing I'm going for, just making it more fun for myself and the young guys. It can get hard for them, but as long as they understand that it's for a good reason and for a good future.
"Given the fact they haven't practiced for so long, watching them practice (now), they're ready … they were really eager to get back and hungry about what they want to do. The fact that they're hungry makes everything easier and better."
Crawford also sees plenty of hunger from new safeties coach Kasey Teegardin – who after spending three years as a graduate assistant and one year as director of on-campus recruiting for the Hoosiers now gets a full-time coaching gig.
Former safety Fields (2014-17), the lone player in program history to play in 50 games, spoke for a lot of folks in the defensive backs room in welcoming Teegardin's promotion.
"From day one being around Coach Teegardin, I knew that he was a great coach and deserved an opportunity to show what he could do," Fields said in a press release announcing Teegardin's appointment. "Coach has always been someone who the players could trust and has always been a reliable source when it comes to football questions."
Crawford was both reassured and fired up about Teegardin's elevation.
"It's my last year, so I wanted a coach who I knew and was comfortable with," Crawford said. "I want to go out with a bang. So having Coach Teegardin come in helped me feel more comfortable and to come in ready for the spring.
"We're family. Brotherhood. And I feel we're hungry. We have a lot of young guys who want to win a lot of games here. As long as the older guys set the standard well, we have a good future."
Crawford has always set a good standard.
And his play has spoken volumes.
But now he's more ready to lend his voice. And pleased to do so.
"Honestly, I don't think it'll be tough for me, because it's also something I want," he said. "Maybe it was something I wasn't comfortable with (it would be tough), but now I understand the situation and what I have to do and, to me, it's going to come easy."
Players Mentioned
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