Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/350567
BY TOM LOY It was a long and difficult road for Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward corner- back Shaun Crawford, but the four-star recruit found a home in South Bend. The 5-9, 175-pounder originally committed to Michigan on Aug. 23, and was set in that decision. However, Notre Dame extended an offer Feb. 21 of this year, and that changed every- thing. Before all that occurred, Crawford first visited South Bend last summer and called the trip "a game changer." "Before I committed to Michigan last year, I took separate trips to Michigan, Miami and then Notre Dame," Crawford said. "The first visit to Miami was great, but that Notre Dame trip really stuck out between the three. There was a feeling that I got, as soon as I got there, that this place was just unreal. The campus was beautiful, and Notre Dame itself was incredible. You hear about the school, and then when you walk on campus, you can see why everyone loves it. "I just got that feeling that I knew this was the place for me. It was differ- ent than the feeling I got at Miami and Michigan. I was ready to go there when I first stepped on campus last July. I just didn't have the offer at the time." After receiving his offer from the Irish in February, Crawford was pri- marily recruited by defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks. The Notre Dame assistant took what Crawford called a different approach to recruiting. "I felt Coach Cooks was really hon- est and upfront, and I liked that about him," Crawford said. "He didn't sell himself or his background or anything related to foot- ball. He didn't talk about other schools and never said a negative thing. "He talked about the school and Notre Dame itself. He talked about his love for the players that he coaches, and he really sold us on the fact that Notre Dame is the place to go. We will get the best coach- ing, the best education, and life after football will be better no matter what happens during my time at the school on the foot- ball field. "He also told me about [Notre Dame cornerback] KeiVarae Russell's growth since first getting to Notre Dame. He wasn't just talking about being an All-American this year, COMMITMENT PROFILE SHAUN CRAWFORD Four-Star Cornerback Chooses Irish Over Wolverines And Buckeyes 247Sports lists Crawford as the No. 150 overall recruit nationally, the No. 15 corner- back in the country and the No. 6 prospect in Ohio. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS