A Local Kid That Better Be On DD's Radar

UNTLifer · September 15, 2006

Football: Shaping up

Crutsinger transforms from twig to tree trunk

07:54 AM CDT on Friday, September 15, 2006

Jeff Andrews/Staff Writer

When Denton Broncos running back George Tovar trotted into the end zone to give his team a 34-21 lead late in the third quarter of Denton’s Zero Week game against Fort Worth Western Hills, all eyes were on the junior who had just inched the Broncos closer to a victory.

DRC/Gary Payne

Denton offensive lineman Taylor Crutsinger added 40 pounds in the offseason and the results have shown on the field.

All eyes except those of the coaches. Their eyes were on the other Bronco in the end zone — left tackle Taylor Crutsinger, who had manhandled Western Hills’ defensive end, pinning him five yards deep in the end zone while the defender desperately scrapped to get loose from Crutsinger.

“When we watch tape of him, we let everybody watch him because his motor runs 125 miles per hour,” Broncos head coach Randy Patzkowski said. “When he gets people on their skates and he gets his pad level below theirs and he gets them back peddling and retreating, he just lays them over and pins them. He’s fun to watch.”

Through two games this season, Crutsinger has 18 knockdowns and 21 finishes — more than any offensive lineman totaled during the entire 2005 season.

Last week against McKinney North, Crutsinger dominated Bulldog defensive end Kenny Alexander, an Oklahoma State commitment and a three-star prospect on Rivals.com.

But things haven’t always gone so well for the senior. Last season the 6-foot, 4-inch tackle was a twig, weighing only 220 pounds.

“He was a gangly uncoordinated weakling last year that had to play,” Patzkowski said. “We forced him to play. He had to grow up and he did just that.”

Crutsinger is now considerably stronger and is beginning to fill out his lanky frame. The senior’s maximum bench press has improved by more than 40 pounds over an offseason where Crutsinger was motivated to fulfill his potential on the field.

Crutsinger recalls the words of former teammate Brian Perez, who challenged the senior to dedicate himself in the weight room.

“We were in the weight room [last year] and I remember the last time we ever worked out together,” Crutsinger said. “He said, ‘You’re never going to give up. You’re never going to give up.’ He just said it loud over and over again. It just stuck in my head that I was never going to give up and this season was going to be it.”

His new-found strength has significantly improved his coordination, which hurt him in pass protection last year. While he’s always been good at blocking on running plays, his upper-body strength has given him the ability to push blitzing defenders away from the quarterback, and of course, the ability to pancake scrappy defenders to the ground.

Crutsinger credits the stability of the program after it had to rebuild with a new coaching staff last season. The senior said his practices are more productive because the practice squad is better, team unity has been restored and the offensive line works together to cover each other’s mistakes. Crutsinger can now focus on the fundamentals of his position instead of learning new plays.

“Last year it was kind of weird having a new coaching staff and this year we’re returning with the same staff,” he said. “It’s easier to start really learning things more. We can spend more time this year learning specific techniques other than learning plays or learning the scheme. We already know all that.”

Because of his status as a late bloomer, Crutsinger has gone unnoticed by college recruiters. While he’s received numerous letters from Division II schools, he’s yet to get serious interest from Division I school.

The senior has his eyes set on Texas Tech, but he isn’t sure if he’ll get a scholarship for football. If he doesn’t, he plans to walk on the football team and either major or minor in music. Crutsinger excels as a trumpet player in the varsity band and was selected to the All-Region Jazz Band on guitar.

But don’t let his quite demeanor fool you. While his polite, well-spoken voice may resemble the smooth style of a jazz guitar solo, his tenacity on the field doesn’t.

“When the lights come on on Friday night and he steps on the field, he transforms,” Patzkowski said. “He’s got this other alter ego now. He’s a different kind of cat. He ain’t playing no trumpet when the lights come on. He’s going to get after your tail.”

But his off-the-field attitude does help with his teammates. Crutsinger’s approach makes him easy to work with, especially with quarterback Reagan Wood. Along with receiver Blake Ellis and linebacker Josh Gordon, Wood and Crutsinger are the last football players left from their McMath Middle School team. The four socialize outside of football and their close relationship translates on the field.

“Sometimes we’ll get prepared to play a certain way and it’ll change when we finally get there,” Crutsinger said. “We have to make game adjustments and part of that is talking to Reagan and seeing what’s happening, how people are flowing through and if they’re beating me or not. It makes a huge difference on Friday nights. That wasn’t there last year.”

adman · September 15, 2006

DRC.com
But his off-the-field attitude does help with his teammates. Crutsinger’s approach makes him easy to work with, especially with quarterback Reagan Wood. Along with receiver Blake Ellis and linebacker Josh Gordon, Wood and Crutsinger are the last football players left from their McMath Middle School team. The four socialize outside of football and their close relationship translates on the field.
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Is Wood, Ellis or Gordon planning on attending Tech? IF so that may be a reason this kid wishes to go there.

Any word on the Ellis kid as a receiver? Maybe you go after Ellis with the hopes it helps lure Crustinger.