The University of Nebraska (UNO) recently added a new high-profile athlete to its 2022 football team— Decoldest Crawford. The Louisiana high school senior committed to the Cornhuskers Friday, sparking a wave of excitement in the college football world.
Crawford shared the news in a 25-minute Instagram Live from the signing ceremony. He also uploaded several other posts on the matter, with one cryptically captioned "To Be Continued…."
The decision comes after Crawford de-committed from Louisiana State University (LSU).
The athlete was recruited by Mickey Joseph, a football coach at LSU, from 2017 to 2021. News that Joseph would begin coaching at Nebraska, his alma mater, broke earlier this month, and he recruited Crawford shortly after.
"Me and Coach Joseph, we built a relationship over three years. He's a coach I can trust to take me to the next level," Crawford said. "I knew where I wanted to go; I just didn't let it be known to the public [until signing]."
Decoldest Crawford, Welcome to the good life
Follow: @Yrncold
#GBRXXII
pic.twitter.com/pdwUebuwOP— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation) December 17, 2021
Crawford's decision comes just days after Travis Hunter, the nation's top-ranking football recruit, signed with Jackson State despite being committed to Florida State for almost two years.
This decision was considered groundbreaking for college athletics, as top recruits don't typically have a history of signing with HBCUs.
"Florida State has always been a beacon for me. I grew up down there, that's where my roots are, and I never doubted that I would play for the Seminoles," Hunter wrote of his decision. "It's a dream that is hard to let go of, but sometimes we are called to step into a bigger future than the one we imagined for ourselves. For me, that future is at Jackson State University."
"Jerry Rice, Doug Williams, and, of course, JSU's own Walter Payton — Historically Black colleges and Universities have a rich history in football," he continued. "I want to be part of that history, and more, I want to be part of that future. I am making this decision so that I can light the way for others to follow."
