|
These freakish talents can step right up and into the starting lineup. Stanford's freshman sensation, LB Michael-Jordan Craven, was born nine months after the original MJ won an NCAA hoops crown as a freshman for North Carolina. (A coincidence, Craven insists.) Craven, who prefers cowhide to pigskin, even had a failed baseball gig, seeing no outfield time at Stanford this spring. So now he's full-time football. Fine with new Cardinal whistle Buddy Teevens, who concurs with what Dean Smith determined two decades ago: Sometimes a frosh is too damn good to sit. And Craven, who, at 6'1", 215, closes faster than a bear trap, is that good. "He's one of the most instinctive guys I've ever been around," says LB coach Tom Williams. "You don't want him to ever come off the field." Stanford lost all three 'backers from 2001. No one in Palo Alto can recall the last time a linebacker started as a freshman, but Teevens needs Craven -- the top prep LB in 2000 -- to shut down foes and get the coach's pass-happy Buddyball on the field. The new MJ is happy to lead the transition game.
More Players To Watch: Bad Boys I Next Superstars I Draft Dodgers I X Men I Leading Men
This article appears in the September 2 issue of ESPN The Magazine. |
Present Tense
Oregon RB Onterrio Smith ... College Football front page The latest news and stats ESPNMAG.com Who's on the cover today? SportsCenter with staples Subscribe to ESPN The Magazine for just ...
|
|