Ole Miss places three staffers on FootballScoop’s 2022 Minority Watch List/Rising Stars
FootballScoop recently named Ole Miss running backs coach Marquel Blackwell, recruiting strategy coordinator Kelvin Bolden and co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Maurice Crum in its second-ever minority watch list. The publication received submissions for roughly 400 coaches and football personnel prior to the rising star selections being finalized.
Blackwell played quarterback at USF in the early 2000’s, leading the Bulls to a 30-12 record during his time under center when they were moving up from I-AA to I-A in 2001. In college, Blackwell threw for 9,108 yards and 57 touchdowns while also running for 1,235 yards and 20 more scores. He set just about every individual passing record at USF and is still the all-time leader passer in yards, first in touchdown passes in a single game and second in touchdowns.
After signing with the New York Jets as a free agent, he quickly got into coaching at Freedom High School in Tampa, Fla. He left the prep ranks after two years and went back to USF as a quality control assistant. He then had stints at Western Kentucky, Florida, Toledo and West Virginia before arriving in Houston on Dana Holgerson’s staff.
Some of his best work was with the Rockets at Toledo where he coached Kareem Hunt. Toledo was fourth in the MAC in rushing offense (195.0 ypg) in 2016, led by Hunt who led the conference and was 15th nationally with 1,475 yards. He was a third-round NFL Draft selection by the Kansas City Chiefs and finished his career at Toledo with a school-record 4,945 yards, good for third in MAC history.
He will now be coaching one of the more talented rooms in the country as returning backs Kentrel Bullock and Isaiah Woullard have been joined by transfers Ulysses Bentley IV and Zach Evans.
Bolden comes to Ole Miss after coaching under Gus Malzahn at UCF last year as a wide receiver assistant coach and served as director of recruiting relations. He spent time under Dan Mullen at Florida as the assistant director of player personnel and served as a graduate assistant with wide receivers at Arkansas in 2018 and 2019.
Prior to his time in coaching, the Perkinston, Miss., prospect played wide receiver at the University of Southern Mississippi where he played for the Golden Eagles in 2010 and 2011, registering 104 receptions for 1,393 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is a highly-respected name in the Magnolia State among coaches and prospects alike and has already made a big impact on Ole Miss’ recruiting efforts in 2023 and beyond.
Crum spent three seasons on Charlie Weis’ staff at Kansas as a defensive graduate assistant (2012), Assistant Director of Operations (2013) and Director of High School Relations (2014). After he returned to Notre Dame as a defensive graduate assistant in 2015 and spent one season at Indiana State as a cornerbacks coach.
During his first year as defensive coordinator, WKU’s defense finished eighth in passing yards allowed (177.3), 28th in total yards allowed (348.7) and 41st in points allowed (25.3) per game. In 2021, his defense finished 2nd in the country in interceptions (21) and returned two for touchdowns, 44th in sacks, 46th in passing efficiency defense, 59th in tackles for loss and 64th in red zone defense.
The former linebacker prospect from Riverview, Fla. signed with Notre Dame in 2005 and was a team captain during his time in South Bend, Ind. During his playing career for the Fighting Irish, Crum played in 50 games with 42 consecutive starts and made 306 tackles, including 23 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He ranks 11th in Notre Dame history in total tackles. A two-time team captain in 2007 and 2008, Crum is one of only 17 players in school history to accomplish such a feat.
How were the 2022 Minority Watch List/Rising Star selections made?
Via FootballScoop: “With input from double-digit NFL coaches and scouts, more than 100 college coaches and staffers, as well as myriad other figures in football, not to mention devoted wives and family members, journalists, our staff here at FootballScoop and a panel of experts who helped vet candidates and wade through the both difficult and incredibly rewarding selection process, FootballScoop presents its 2022 Minority Watch List/Rising Stars compilation.”
“In the end, some 125 football professionals gained selection to our 2022 iteration and roughly 250 coaches and personnel garnered FootballScoop 2022 Minority Watch List/Rising Star Honorable Mention.”
