[Buckskin86]

Posted on May 1, 2009
Lineman a Jack of all trades
By Matt Fortuna
Collegian Staff Writer

His journey has been eccentric, one that has spanned more than 3,500 miles and a half-dozen sports.

Yet just four years removed from the "real gray, real dull" environment of London, Jack Crawford is the man Penn State is pointing at to fill the gap left by Aaron Maybin, its All-America defensive end and first round NFL Draft pick.

The conundrum, of course, is that it's been a mere three years since the sophomore's discovery of football.

"I lined up offsides as a receiver on the first play. I stood up as a defensive end," Crawford said through his mild English accent.

"I had no idea. I didn't know the rules, to be honest. I didn't even no what offsides was."

Such is the predicament Crawford found himself in upon his arrival to the United States in 2005.

He entered a basketball camp at powerhouse St. Augustine Prep in Richland, N.J., the summer before his sophomore year.

The now 6-foot-5, 262-pounder hoped to dazzle opponents with his finesse as an off-guard and small forward the same way he had in England, where he gave boxing, cricket, rugby and soccer tries before realizing nothing would provide him the educational opportunities that America had to offer.

Lineman a Jack of all trades - The Daily Collegian Online