Stars of Saturday Night Live: Isaah Crocker
On Wednesday Isaah Crocker released his Top Five, a list that included Nebraska, Oregon, Alabama, Oregon State, and UCLA.
Gifted with terrific leaping ability and great body control, the Inderkum High (Sacramento, CA) star's recruitment was long thought to be a two-team race between the Beavers and the Ducks, but a summer of standing out against the best at The Opening and Adidas national 7-on-7 competitions has brought a new school into the mix.
The Ducks made a strong impression when he visited Eugene and Corvallis at the end of June, but then Crocker took a July 18th unofficial visit to Alabama for a camp competition that he described as "mind-blowing." He had his picture taken with Nick Saban. On the practice fields, he excelled against some of the top cover cornerbacks in the South. The Alabama staff showed him the impressive facilities and the equally impressive trophy case, complete with all the accolades won by Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley.
The Tide moved into his Top Five after the visit, and he's vowed to take an official to Tuscaloosa this fall.
Before that, the Ducks have an outstanding opportunity to make a powerful second impression on the 4-star sensation. Along with friend and Oregon commit tight end Spencer Webb, plus commits Steve Stephens and Jevon Holland, Crocker is one of the featured stars and key targets at this Saturday's first annual recruiting showcase, Saturday Night Live.
After Darren Carrington's dismissal two weeks ago, concern has grown among Oregon fans that depth and experience at wide receiver could be a fatal weakness for the Ducks in 2017. They're blessed with a powerful running back, an experienced offensive line and a rocket-armed QB, but who is going to make the big plays downfield, the ones that Carrington (sometimes) could be counted on to make?
This season they'll try to patch together a solution to that problem, relying on their running game, returning senior Charles Nelson, tight end Jake Breeland, and a crop of talented but untested young receivers like Dillon Mitchell, Alex Ofodile, Johnny Johnson III, Jaylon Redd, Malik Lovette and Darrian McNeal.
A year from now, it will be much less of a worry. Imagine the Oregon receiving corps after the addition of Warren Thompson, Tre'Shaun Harrison, and Braden Lenzy, with the mind-boggling possibility of Chase Cota and Crocker added to the rotation.
That's five Darren Carringtons, without the baggage and face-palming visits to Taylor's.
Crocker may be the most dynamic of the bunch. He's glue-fingered and acrobatic, with a 4.58 40 and a 35-to-40 inch vertical leap. He beats defenders to the ball.
Last season he racked up 31 catches for 746 yards and 10 touchdowns, but it's important to note that he played in a run-heavy offense with a left-handed quarterback who ran much better than he throws. Inderkum QB Trajan Cotton is a wonderful athlete, but he really lacked the arm strength to deliver the ball to Crocker deep. So often he had to wait for it or wrestle it away from defenders. In addition, the fleet, agile wideout missed five games with an injury, further limiting his production.
Notes:
Excels at high-pointing the ball. Elusive and physical, especially after the catch. Good hands. Racked up impressive numbers despite playing without an elite quarterback--his high school QB is lefthanded with not a particularly strong arm. Has to lob the ball downfield, toss up scuds. Uses his body well to screen defenders. Gifted kick returner who is shifty, reliable and creative.
Ranked #134 in the Rivals 250, this summer was the first that Crocker completely focused on football. As a young athlete his first love was basketball, and he was so good that he started on the varsity as a sophomore.
In a playoff game against Placer in February of that season he soared for 22 points, scoring three straight baskets to tie the game in the fourth quarter before injuring his ankle badly at the 9-second mark. He had to be carried off the court.
This summer cemented the idea that his future was on the gridiron. At The Opening, the Alabama camp and the national Adidas 7-on-7 tournament Crocker shined against elite competition, showing ball skills and body control that mark him as one of the most promising wideouts in the 2018 class.
Crocker does things with the ball in the air that only great receivers can do. He's still filling out his 6-2, 170-pound frame, working in the weight room every day.
Inspired this summer by a talk NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice gave to WRs at The Opening, he's doubled his efforts to improve his route-running and knowledge of the game. He's earned a 3.2 G.P.A. in the classroom, further proof that he is both grounded and well-rounded.
Isaah Crocker is a tremendous college football prospect, and at Saturday Night Live Oregon fans have an opportunity to see why and welcome him back to Eugene. The event opens at 3 p.m., and both parking and admission are free.