Crum throws touchdown in spring game

Kent State starting quarterback and Midview High grad Dustin Crum fired a touchdown pass in Kent State’s spring game, as the Golden Flashes wrapped up their spring practice schedule during a team scrimmage.

Crum, who will come back for his sixth season of eligibility, is one of the top quarterbacks in the MAC.

Crum connected with Nykeim Johnson on the touchdown, but in the postgame news conference, which posted to the Kent State football website, he did not come across as satisfied even though he was a first-team All-MAC quarterback in the Covid-shortened 2020 season.

“I think there were a lot of positives,” he said of Flashes performance in the spring game. “A lot of guys making big plays. And then obviously a lot of things to clean up, like you’d expect in spring ball. So a long way to go but there are definitely a lot of positive things to take away from it and a lot of bright spots from guys,” said Crum.

Crum, who was an firstteam All-Ohio quarterback during his senior year at Midview, has been stellar his last two years at Kent State. He has guided the traditional college football doormat to back-to-back winning seasons.

The team went 7-6 in 2019 and won its bowl game — The Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl — where Crum passed for 289 yards and a score and ran for 147 yards and a score to earn the game’s Offensive MVP honors.

Crum said he entered the 2021 spring football practice with one main focus.

“Biggest goal was to improve everyday and not waste any days,” said Crum, who also played basketball and baseball at Midview. Crum stands 6-foot-3, weighs 207 pounds and it’s not unfathomable to think he could end up on an NFL roster with a stellar 2021 campaign.

Crum’s breakout year came in 2019 when he threw for 2,625 yard and 20 touchdowns against just two picks.

He followed that up with a strong 2020 throwing for 1,182 yards 12 TDs and 2 picks in four games while completing 73 percent of his throws. He also rushed for 240 yards and another four TDs.

Kent State opens its season on the road vs. Texas A&M on Sept. 4. The Flashes will also play Big Ten squads Maryland and Iowa before opening its MAC schedule Oct 5 at home vs. Bowling Green . Crum sounded like a coach when he reiterated the team would have to clean up the penalties before the opener.

“Things we’ve got to iron out in camp and make sure we’re crisp because we’re going to be playing good teams and you can’t get away with that stuff,” Crum said.

Kent enters the 2021 season in the unexpected position of being considered one of the best teams in the MAC. Crum and company can’t sneak up on teams anymore. So what will Crum work on this summer so he continues to get better and heaven forbid regress?

“You can honestly improve almost anything. But for me I want to be more consistent, (work on) some decision making things and just put more on my plate offensively and try to get everyone ready and put us in the best position possible at all times,” Crum said.