ELF: Berlin Thunder re-sign RB Jocques Crawford
The Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football have re-signed their leading rusher from last season, Jocques Crawford.
New Thunder head coach Johnny Schmuck is excited to have one of the league’s best-running backs return to Germany’s capital city.
“Obviously I’m super excited to have him back on our team. Joc is not only a tremendous athlete and true professional, but he also has a great character which showed last year, especially when things weren’t going great. Every team that wants to compete in this league needs special players and he is one! Also, great job by our front office getting the deal done early, I feel this sets the tone for our offseason.”
The thirty-three-year-old Crawford rushed for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns last season for the Thunder good for second in the league. The 6’1″, 245-pound veteran has had a long international career with stops in Finland, Brazil, Germany, and is currently playing Romania with the Bucharest Rebels.
Before beginning his global career, the Memphis, Tennessee, native was a top high school recruit playing both running back and safety. However, prior to joining the division one ranks, Crawford starred as a Junior College All-American at Cisco (Texas) Junior College rushing for 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns in his sophomore season. He then went on to play for Kansas University (NCAA D1 FBS) and Tennessee Tech (NCAA D1 FCS). As a Kansas Jayhawk, Crawford rushed for 242 yards and four touchdowns before transferring after one season in Lawrence. In his final collegiate season, the senior rushed for 419 yards and four touchdowns as a member of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.
The physical running back started off his international career winning league MVP with the Seinäjoki Crocodiles in Finland. He followed that season up with another rushing title this time with the Turku Trojans. Soon thereafter, the Maple League All-Star moved to Brazil playing there from 2015 to 2018. In his four seasons in Brazil, Crawford suited up for the Santos Tsunami, Corinthians, Recife Mariners, and Cruzeiro Imperadores.
Expect Crawford to be a centerpiece of Berlin’s offense once again when the 2022 European League of Football kicks off next summer. The veteran ball carrier is one of a few key signings already being made early on in the league’s off-season.
