Kekoa Crawford (image via 247 Sports)
Name: Kekoa Crawford
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #1
Last year: I ranked Crawford #44 and said he would be a backup wide receiver. He made 4 catches for 47 yards and 1 touchdown, and he ran 3 times for 15 yards.
TTB Rating: 81
Normally, I probably would have projected someone with Crawford’s skills as a guy destined for a redshirt, or possibly with just a wee bit of playing time with no discernible freshman upside. Last year I ranked him pretty highly. Why the swing? The kid likes to block. Crawford is the best blocking receiver I’ve seen come to Michigan in a while, even though a couple other guys (Jehu Chesson, Maurice Ways) have developed those skills in college. I think that trait got Crawford on the field early, and he had a decent freshman season for someone playing behind two established seniors in Chesson and Amara Darboh. Crawford also has good hands and made a nice touchdown catch against Maryland.
Now Crawford might be the #1 receiving target in 2017. With Chesson and Darboh gone – and Drake Harris moved to cornerback – the only upperclassman receivers are redshirt junior backup Ways and junior Grant Perry, neither of whom has been a heavily utilized receiver. Since the spring, the expectation has been that Crawford would start at one receiver spot this year, with a freshman (likely Tarik Black or Donovan Peoples-Jones) starting on the other side. Crawford doesn’t have the same athletic upside as those two freshmen, but he does have those soft hands and that blocking ability, and he runs like a running back.
Prediction: Starting wide receiver; 40 catches, 520 yards, 3 touchdowns
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Unless I missed something there are 15 players left for 12 slots: Cole, Bredeson, McCray, Hurst, Gary, Winovich, Speight, Kinnel, Mone, Nordin, Kugler, Metellus, Evans, Bush, and Khaleke Hudson. Is there going to be a 4 way tie for one slot?
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I agree with your projections but have a slight nitpick. What do you mean doesn’t have the same upside? Guy has good hands, tough, runs well and clearly has very good speed. Guy reminds me potentially of a college version of Andre Rison. Kid has all the tools and is a football player.
Why would DPJ or Black have more upside? Because they are in theory .05 faster in a 40 yard dash? If you would elaborate that would be great. I’ll rephrase it a different way. Would you take a guy who can beat the opponent deep with a qb who can’t throw a consistent deep ball or a receiver who can catch anything within 20 yards and runs great routes?
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I do understand you mentioned athletic upside for the record. What makes DPJ and Black more potentially athletic? Great site by the way. Love it. I also like the fellow posters so all these questions are just fun challenges within the board.
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I had the same thought. I think sometimes it’s just a case of a true freshman being a blank canvas for hope.
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I got this from another site. I don’t put much credence into these comments but I wanted to post here because I find them amusing.
Camp notes:
The four best wide receivers on team- by a mile- are Tarik Black, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Oliver Martin and… walk on Nate Schoenle.
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That is from Greg Henson. Not entirely reliable.
Crawford and Tarik Black I feel could be great in college. From tape I’ve seen, Black runs better routes, but Crawford is more physical and blocks better.
DPJ is an elite athlete.
If we didnt take 4 amazing receivers this recruiting class, I think Schoenle would’ve gotten a bit more time. Looks like the kid can ball.
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BS
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