MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia coaches spent months and years pursuing Steven Smothers, Brendan Ferns and Kyzir White. But a fast-tracked relationship with junior college running back Justin Crawford filled a vital need.
At Northwest Mississippi Community College, Crawford put up more 2,000 yards from scrimmage last season, and programs like Georgia, South Carolina and Ole Miss were interested.
Once Wendell Smallwood announced he was entering the NFL draft, West Virginia became interested also. But was it too late? Could the Mountaineers land the national junior college offensive player of the year in just three weeks?