Football future creeps into Crockett’s mind
Academy basketball ace opens recruiters’
eyes with gridiron talent
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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Pressed to identify his favorite sport,
Chris Crockett hummed like a cricket before giving up.
"That’s a really, really tough
question," the Columbus Academy standout athlete said. "I’m really
glad I’m just a junior, because it’s practically a tossup right now. That’s a
decision I’d like to put off as long as I can."
Until a few months ago, Crockett would have
answered "basketball" without hesitation. From November until
mid-July, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound guard is consumed by hoops.
But a breakout football season in which he
has rushed for 1,404 yards (with a hefty 9.6-yard average) and 30 touchdowns
has made Crockett think twice about where his college potential might lie.
"If I had to make the decision right
now which sport I’d prefer to play in college, it would probably be
basketball," Crockett said. "But football is definitely catching up.
To tell you the truth, I’m probably getting a few more major (college) letters
in football."
Crockett said he is receiving interest from
Iowa, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and Connecticut in football, and from Xavier,
Pittsburgh and Penn State in basketball.
Academy football coach Mark Barren said he
will support any decision Crockett makes.
"The only advice I’ve given him is to
keep all of his doors open," Barren said. "The basketball coaches
have seen him in AAU, and they know what he can do. After football season is
over, a lot of scouts will be asking for film. He realizes the potential he has
in both sports.
"I sense from his commitment and his
excitement about our team this year that football is gaining ground, but I’m
also aware that he’s been playing basketball since he was really young and
that’s his first love. One way or the other, Chris is an extremely competitive
kid who is every bit as impressive off the field as he is on it."
After a great start to his career, Crockett
missed the final six games of his freshman football season with a foot injury.
In 2005, he rushed for 1,091 yards (a 9.2-yard average) with 14 touchdowns.
In basketball, he averaged 15.2 points as a
freshman and 21.2 as a sophomore, when he was named second-team All-Central
District.
Having been timed in roughly 4.5 seconds in
the 40-yard dash, Crockett has a knack for acceleration, field vision and
timely cuts.
"I used to try to run around everybody
when I was younger, but I realize that college coaches look for guys with a
tougher mentality who will run between the tackles," he said.
Barren said, "The big key for Chris has
been staying healthy. As he put on 15 or 20 pounds, he has the run the ball
with much more authority and confidence. He’ll be the first guy to tell you,
though, that he needs to get a little more physical."
Entering the season finale against rival
Bexley (8-1), Academy (6-3) has an outside chance of reaching the Division V
playoffs.
"My first two years, I was sort of
looking forward to basketball practices at this time of the season,"
Crockett said. "This year, I’m really not ready for the season to end. I’m
having a lot of fun. I think we’re playing our best football right now, and if
we got to the playoffs we could possibly go somewhere."