How Ethan Crawford scored his first Southern Miss football touchdown one year after ACL injury

HATTIESBURG – Ethan Crawford’s path to Southern Miss was no straight line.

His first career touchdown last week wasn’t either.

The freshman quarterback played five snaps in last week’s loss at Appalachian State, but scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter on a 10-yard rushing score. Crawford had the option to make a throw or run to the left, but instead improvised and knifed to the right, galloping untouched into the end zone.

“My eyes went blurry,” Crawford said. “It was just so much adrenaline. I told Coach (Jordy) Joseph that I hadn’t been in the end zone in over a year, so I was ready to get back in it. I didn’t know how it felt anymore.”

The extemporization is a microcosm of how he went from a three-star recruit to playing his first significant snaps.

Knee injury derails end to high school career

Crawford was a star at Hillcrest High School, located just a 15-minute drive from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. There, he trained with Galu Tagovailoa, the father of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.

But it was the first drive of the last regular-season game in Hillcrest’s season.

The Patriots were 9-0 and a favorite to win a state championship. Crawford was nearing the end zone when he hurdled a McAdory defender. He landed awkwardly on his left leg.

It was a torn ACL. His season was over.

“It was just devastating at the moment just because I knew what I did,” Crawford said.

But the Golden Eagles weren’t deterred by the injury. Crawford, a three-star recruit, still enrolled early with Southern Miss, spending most of his time rehabbing as he adjusted to the new environment.

“People follow him,” Southern Miss coach Will Hall said. “He’s got great charisma, great smile and a great skill set. Great runner, live arm. We still gotta work on his mechanics a little bit, but he comes from a great family.”

Scoring his first Southern Miss touchdown

Hall surrendered his offensive play-calling duties ahead of last week’s game, while also opening up the starting quarterback job back up. It was all-but certain that there would be a different looking Southern Miss offense against App State with offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sam Gregg and Joseph taking over the play calls.

Even with Billy Wiles ultimately remaining as the starting quarterback, it opened up the possibility for extra wrinkles in the offense.

Joseph said Tuesday that it was a collective effort between him, Hall and Gregg to create a package involving Crawford.

Crawford did not attempt a pass, but finished with two carries for 12 yards. He also had an eight-yard rush, but it was called back because of a penalty.

“He handled it well,” Joseph said. “Probably should’ve played him a little bit more.”

It was the first time this season Crawford saw the field since playing three snaps in the season opener against Alcorn State.

“The moment was just there and (Joseph) knew I was gonna take advantage of that opportunity because I've been waiting on it so long,” Crawford said. “I prayed for that time. I'm just thankful. I really can't do nothing else but be thankful for coach Joseph, coach Hall, coach Gregg, my offensive line.”

Crawford and the coaching staff did not reveal their hand as to what Crawford’s role may be moving forward. He can play two more games without burning his redshirt for the season.

But if that’s all he plays in 2023, getting that first career touchdown out of the way could be valuable as he seasons in the program.

“You will see one-three in the end zone again,” Crawford said, “so just be prepared.”

Jay Stanley injured again, but expected to play

Southern Miss starting safety Jay Stanley missed Tuesday's practice, but returned Wednesday. Hall announced Tuesday that he is dealing with an MCL injury, but is still expected to play for the Golden Eagles (1-7, 0-5 Sun Belt Conference) against Louisiana-Monroe (2-6, 0-5) on Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN+).

Stanely missed the game at South Alabama on Oct. 17, but returned against App State. He's also been nursing a hand injury since the start of the season that he continued to play through against the Moutaineers.

Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Freshman QB Ethan Crawford adds dimension to Southern Miss football