The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kent’s Crum in contention to start
The Kent State football team opens its season Sept. 1 at Illinois, and it’s still unknown who will start at quarterback.
It could be Midview grad Dustin Crum, but first-year coach Sean Lewis isn’t ready to announce the winner between Crum and Woody Barrett. The two have been battling it out since spring practices.
“We’ll know by the end of this weekend who the starting quarterback is going to be,” Lewis told The Record-Courier last week.
With Lewis’ decision apparently made, the coach likely won’t reveal that pick until closer to the Illinois game.
Crum does have experience while at Kent. Last season he played in 10 games and started two. He threw for 232 yards on 16 of 30 passing, and rushed for 310 yards on 85 carries.
Barrett is a transfer from Auburn.
Lewis had hoped to decide on his starter at the start of summer camp, but it never came to fruition for several reasons.
“I felt like because of all the different combinations that we’ve been using around them, on the line and at wide receiver, along with all of the installations we’ve been doing, it was difficult to give them a fair evaluation,” Lewis said. “Now things are settling down around them. Everyone has a good handle on things now after 18 (preseason) practices. You take (quarterback) out, and eight of the 10 (starting) spots are finalized. So I wanted to give them a chance this weekend with that (starting) group, with that set of guys, to see who can move that unit most fluidly.”
Crum told The Morning Journal last spring the experience of playing as a freshman in 2017 was big. Now he’s hoping to parlay that into the starter’s job.
“I never want to see myself as a No. 2 or No. 3, as any competitor should be,” Crum said. “They should want to be No. 1 out there. But my goal was to my best to get on the field, but if not get better every day.”
“The goal is to put up as many points as fast as possible. It’s exciting the energy Coach Lewis has brought.” Kent State quarterback Dustin Crum, on new coach Sean Lewis
Crum said the key for him during the QB competition is making an adjustment to Lewis’ system, and that began at the start of spring practice.
“It’s all about learning a new offense,” Crum said. “Here, it’s about getting used to new route combinations, communicating and checks. And mentally. The goal is to put up as many points as fast as possible. It’s exciting the energy Coach Lewis has brought.”