Quavaris Crouch has had a long journey from being the star running back on a state championship high school team in Charlotte in 2017 to ending up on Johnson C. Smith’s roster in 2024.
It has included stops at Tennessee and Michigan State, changing positions to linebacker, a period of wondering if he would ever play football again, rediscovering his faith in God, and then thinking he was going to join the roster of the Charlotte 49ers.
In the end, the Charlotte native came home to another program in the Queen City and has been quick to make headlines for the Division II Golden Bulls of the CIAA as this season kicks off.
Crouch had the best rushing performance of any running back in North Carolina over the weekend in terms of total yardage. He churned out 161 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, helping Johnson C. Smith win its opener over Tuskegee 21-13 in the Red Tails Classic in Montgomery, Ala.
Crouch also had one of the longest scoring plays of the weekend for a player from our state, taking a handoff in the opening half 75 yards to the end zone. He averaged 7.7 yards per carry for the game and was named the MVP of the Red Tails game.
Ironically, JCSU coach Maurice Flowers told The Charlotte Post back in January that “there is no hurry for him to make an immediate impact,” citing Crouch’s move back to offense after being a linebacker at Tennessee and Michigan State. “He’s got to get his running back mojo back. He’s got to knock the rust off, and he will have every opportunity to do that.”
Tuskegee defenders must have some of that rust on their jerseys from Crouch’s stellar performance Sunday. Crouch has two years of eligibility left, so let the rest of the CIAA beware. Johnson C. Smith was known for its defense a year ago, but now has added another offensive weapon to the arsenal. The Golden Bulls play at Morehouse this Saturday in Atlanta.
“[JCSU] is really growing on me,” Crouch told The Post. “I am just blessed to be able to glorify God by playing football again.”
NOTE: The Charlotte Post feature article on Crouch’s journey from being a high school star at Harding University High to joining JCSU is a must read! Click HERE to access their story.
North Carolina Football News plans to track top player performances throughout the season, including each 100-yard rusher from our state’s college and university teams. Including Crouch, we had seven to join the 100-yard rushing club in week one.
Here are details on each:
100-Yard Rushers: Week 1
Quavaris Crouch (Johnson C. Smith): 21 carries, 161 yards, 1 touchdown, 75-yard long run, 7.7 yards per carry (Sept. 1 vs. Tuskegee).
Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest): 17 carries, 135 yards, 1 touchdown, 48-yard long run, 7.9 yards per carry (Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina A&T).
Omarion Hampton (North Carolina): 30 carries, 129 yards, 0 touchdowns, 16-yard long run, 4.3 yards per carry (Aug. 29 vs. Minnesota).
J’Mari Taylor (North Carolina Central): 24 carries, 128 yards, 2 touchdowns, 21-yard long run, 5.3 yards per carry (Sept. 1 vs. Alabama State).
Travon Tensley (Shaw): 20 carries, 126 yards, 0 touchdowns, 34-yard long run, 6.3 yards per carry (Aug. 31 vs. Elizabeth City State).
Jordan Waters (NC State): 20 carries, 123 yards, 2 touchdowns, 50-yard long run, 6.2 yards per carry (Aug. 29 vs. Western Carolina).
Kenji Christian (North Carolina A&T): 16 carries, 121 yards, 1 touchdown, 22-yard long run, 7.6 yards per carry (Aug. 29 vs. Wake Forest).
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