Defensive move paying off for Crist
WILLIAMSBURG — When William & Mary’s new coaching staff adjusted the offense last season, the role of fullback diminished. Never mind that in Tyler Crist, the Tribe had a perennial All-Colonial Athletic Association pick to leadblock for tailbacks and occasionally run the ball.
The change did not make Crist obsolete in the way elite film projectionists became at now-digital movie theaters — far from it. Crist, a 6-foot, 240-pound senior, transitioned immediately into an impact outside linebacker late last season and possesses the skill to contribute much more.
“He could be a four-phase specialteams guy on kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return,” Tribe coach Mike London said. “We’ve got to find a way to get him off the field.
“If he continues to play well, after next year he might be able to play on Sundays.”
That is Crist’s goal, the reason he’ll return to W&M for a sixth season in the fall. He made the decision recently when he was accepted into the Mason School of Business Master of Science Business Analytics program. The fall season will be his first full one at outside linebacker. He transitioned to the position for the final five games of 2019 and made 18 tackles with three sacks.
His biggest sack was his first, against Elon last season. Crist’s big play pushed Elon out of field-goal range in the second overtime in a game the Tribe won 31-29 in five overtimes.
The teams meet again at 4 p.m. today at Zable Stadium in the Tribe’s home opener.
“Elon linemen weren’t allowing any inside stunts, so I said, ‘I’ll just beat ’em on the outside,’ ” Crist said. “Elon’s had our name on the back of their heads ever since we stole that five-overtime game last year at their place.
“They’ll be coming here hungry on Saturday, but we’re up for the challenge.”
While Crist’s transition from offense to defense this late in his career is unusual,
no one is surprised he’s succeeding. Crist had 22 sacks in leading Kecoughtan High in Hampton to a 9-3 record as a senior.
Crist would like to read and react at linebacker a split-second faster as he gains experience there, but his time at fullback already lends to a knack for reading formations and ball carriers more quickly than many defenders. His athleticism gets him to the ball with authority.
“Playing fullback helped me understand how players position themselves for blocks — kick-outs, traps or faceblocks,” Crist said. “I understand how a tight end, fullback or lineman will play a block and where I need to be to beat it.”
Tribe linebackers coach Darryl Blackstock said, “Tyler has everything you’d want in a linebacker: quickness, explosiveness and speed. I feel like since last year he’s stepped up his game in all three phases.
“It’s one thing to ask an outside linebacker to stop the run and go after the
quarterback, but it’s another to ask them to (pass-cover) a tight end or running back. That’s a bonus, but he’s become a complete player and a student of the game.”
In short, Crist — who posted three tackles in his first start at linebacker in the 21-14 loss at Richmond in the Tribe’s season opener two weeks ago — is anything but obsolete.
“When one door closes, another opens,” he said of losing his spot in the offensive backfield. “I understand how some players don’t fit certain systems and I was clearly OK with that.
“The coaching staff believed in me tremendously, so if it didn’t work out at one position, they’d find somewhere for me to show my talents. I’m just glad I’m in position to make a difference for my team.”