Panthers Cornerback Puts His Team First

It wasn’t always about the team for Antonio Crawford.

The Plant cornerback, a rising senior, has always had tremendous athletic ability. He’s always been a great football player. But he did not always have the “team first” mentality that makes him so valuable today.

“Antonio simply made a personal decision to change the way he looked at life, people, football, his friends, family and everything in general,” defensive backs coach Bo Puckett said. “The outcome of this personal growth has made him approach practice and preparation with a sense of professionalism.”

It sounds almost like a quote from his therapist rather than his position coach. But it reflects a significant turning point in Crawford’s life, one that is sure to help him this year and at the next level.

In July, Crawford accepted a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech. He passed up offers from such first-class programs as Ohio, Ball State, Iowa State, FIU and Bowling Green.

“It’s a good team, good academics program. I felt very comfortable on campus and with the coaches,” Crawford said. “Coach Charles Kelly had a lot to do with the decision to go to Tech.”

Crawford has always played corner, even when he experimented with other positions. In youth football with the West Tampa Spartans, he played running back, wide receiver, safety and corner. In middle school at Stewart, he played wide receiver and defensive back. Even in his first three years at Plant, he played both wide receiver and cornerback.

“I always considered myself an athlete,” Crawford said. “I wanted to play whatever was going to help my team the most.”

What Crawford means by “athlete” is that he is prepared to play almost any position the coaches ask him to play. On high school or college rosters, you will see a position listed as “ATH,” which means the player can be used almost anywhere on the field. That’s how Crawford has been listed.

It took a painful loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in last year’s 5A State Final to fully wake up Crawford.

“I realized I wasn’t always being a team player. Even at Plant, I think I was still kind of a selfish person,” Crawford said.

The loss turned on a light for the senior cover corner.

“Now, I think I’ve changed my life for the better,” Crawford said. “I come to every practice, even voluntary ones. I practice up tempo, try to motivate my teammates and be more of a leader.”

“I want to make the people around me better,” he said.

Crawford goes into his senior season at Plant as the No. 1 cover corner to go up against every team’s No. 1 receiver. He’s well suited to the task.

“He was physically born to be a corner. He has the fastest hips and feet I’ve seen at the cornerback position. He just plain gets it,” Puckett said. “We will go this year as Antonio goes, and right now that’s looking pretty good.”