Mark Stoops updates Dekel Crowdus status since returning from injury
Redshirt freshman speedster Dekel Crowdus is ramping up for the season he was supposed to have last year. Unfortunately, Crowdus saw a knee injury wipe out his true freshman 2021 season, where he likely would have earned snaps in some capacity. So now he’s had a whole summer for recovery and looks to make good on his potential this time around. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops likes what he sees.
At a press conference following the ‘Cats latest preseason scrimmage, Stoops was asked about Crowdus, his recovery process and how the young wideout is coming along on the football field. Here was the Kentucky skipper’s answer:
*You can watch his comments here or read them below*
Mark Stoops and Will Levis on Dekel Crowdus
“Yeah, the same thing with Dekel. He’s one of those guys that, like, you see the flashes. You see the talent, the speed. He’s getting more and more confident off that knee injury that he had a year ago. So he’s just one of those guys that just needs to play and be around. And there’s no doubt he’s a great football player, you know. We just got to continue to bring him along.”
Obvious talent. Just a matter of getting him all the way locked in mentally. Something his quarterback, Will Levis, admitted is a small problem for Crowdus so far in practice. But he too acknowledged the WR’s promise when talking after the scrimmage.
“From summer workouts, I mean I just realized that he’s just a different kind of speed, different kind of explosiveness and athleticism. For him, it’s just kind of the mental side. He’s gotta know where to line up. He’s got to know what his responsibility is as well as the guys around him, and have a feel for space and understanding why the route is called what it is in that specific play.
“Just need less MAs (missed assignments?) out of him and we need him to just be a little bit better on that side. But I know he can be a really good player for us and I’m just trusting him that he can help get that done.”
So a bit of a call from the captain to get his stuff together from Levis to Crowdus. But that’s how committed QB1 is to getting the best out of his receiver.