Football just one choice in Crosby’s diverse buffet

IT was about 1 p.m. Tuesday when Tyrell Crosby — 6 feet, 5 inches tall, 315 pounds, give or take a biscuit with the delectable apple butter spread — strolled into Lucille’s Smokehouse at Green Valley Ranch.

Crosby played high school football and basketball at Green Valley and college football at Oregon, where he was voted the winner of the 2017 Morris Trophy as the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12 by the conference’s defensive linemen. His pro football career starts this week: Crosby probably will be selected early in the

KANTOWSKI

second round of the NFL draft.

People finishing lunch looked up from their plates in gleeful anticipation. It called to mind John Candy marching to the principal’s office in “Uncle Buck.”

Often compared to heavy road machinery or farm equipment by people who cover the pro football draft — “Crosby is a road grader when run blocking,” wrote one blogger — the gentle giant ordered the two meat combo (ribs and hot links), mac and cheese, watermelon slices and Lucille’s lemonade.

He ate only one biscuit with the apple butter spread. No big chocolate cake or old-fashioned banana pudding, he told the waitress.

He asked for a takeout box for one of the hot links.

I was disappointed by his (relative) lack of appetite, which, if you spend even a short amount of time with him, is a word seldom used in conjunction with Tyrell Crosby.

All for one

Because of his size, the offensive line probably chose Crosby before he could choose it. He has many interests

outside of football, most consistent with his utilitarian leanings.

He enjoys working for the good of the group, but prefers to do it behind the scenes. Sometimes literally. When he joined the drama club in high school, he had little interest in play acting. He was more intrigued by building sets and learning about production.

Crosby’s major at Oregon was preplanning, public policy and management. His goal after football is to become a city manager. Work hard behind the scenes, he says. Let the mayor and city councilmen take the bows.

“I’ve always enjoyed that part of things, but not taking credit so