Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Freshman DL Looking to Make Instant Impact
Dec 6, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Parker's Jourdin Crawford (0) makes a tackle on Saraland's KJ Lacey (9) at Protective Stadium in the 6A State Championship game. Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

AUBURN, Ala.-- The Auburn Tigers have a philosophy of starting the best players they have, regardless of what recruiting class they come from. It seems in the class of 2025, they have hit on defensive lineman Jourdin Crawford, who has turned heads in his first spring with the team.

“It’s just funny because, no disrespect to the bro, but I didn’t know who he was coming in,” senior running back Damar Alston said, according to Rivals' Bryan Matthews. “I’d seen him in the weight room and he’s throwing crazy weight. I think he’s like the strongest lineman we’ve got right now. I was like, ‘Oh my God, who is this kid?’ And it’s showing out on the field. I feel like he’s going to be a great player for us.”

Crawford is a monster even when it comes to defensive linemen. He is a six-foot, 340-pound workhorse that is already proving that he could be very useful in the trenches. As he continues to be molded by defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and defensive lineman coach Vontrell King-Williams, he could be the next great defender in Auburn history.

“He’s going to be a big-time matchup problem once he continues to learn the proper ways to do things. Super excited about Jourdin,” King-Williams said

Crawford will have his first opportunity to make an impact at Auburn when the Tigers open the season against the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas, on Aug. 29.

More From Auburn Tigers on SI


This article first appeared on Auburn Tigers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Ohio State Predicted to Suffer Yet Another Major Recruiting Loss
General Sports

Ohio State Predicted to Suffer Yet Another Major Recruiting Loss

The Ohio State Buckeyes are generally one of the top recruiting teams in the country, but recently, they have taken quite a hit on the recruiting trail. Whether it's because other schools are offering more lucrative NIL deals or that Ohio State is simply misfiring, the Buckeyes have definitely been on the losing end of recruiting battles more often than not lately, and it might be bound to happen again. Ohio State is awaiting a decision from four-star offensive lineman Da'Ron Parks who is planning to announce his commitment this Saturday and is set to choose between the Buckeyes, Auburn, Florida State and Kentucky. Ohio State is absolutely the most prestigious program on that list, so surely, Parks will be committing to Columbus, correct? Well, not so fast. Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors actually isn't expecting Parks to pick the Buckeyes, which would represent yet another crushing blow to Ohio State for the class of 2026. "One day ahead of the announcement, most of the chatter surrounding this recruitment has centered on the trio of OSU, Auburn, and FSU, and there doesn’t seem to be a clear indicator of him leaning one way or the other yet. Though as of now, we'd predict the field over Ohio State," Hodge wrote. Parks is the 25th-ranked interior offensive lineman in the country and the top-ranked prospect in the state of West Virginia, via 247 Sports' composite rankings. The Buckeyes have only nailed down one interior offensive line commit for 2026 thus far, which was three-star talent Tucker Smith. Smith committed back in March.

Mets Unlikely to Trade for $56 Million Pitcher After New Report
MLB

Mets Unlikely to Trade for $56 Million Pitcher After New Report

The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East ahead of Friday night's bout with the San Francisco Giants, but they are still one of the most vulnerable teams in baseball. New York has a laundry list of pitchers on the IL, including Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), and Max Kranick (flexor). However, it did acquire southpaw hurler Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The veteran is 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA over 45 appearances this season, including 18 holds and one save. While the Mets could stand to add more healthy arms, they probably won't get a certain prominent hurler on the Miami Marlins, via The New York Post's Mike Puma. "The Mets are among the teams that have checked in on Sandy Alcantara," he reported on Friday. "The asking price is steep. The Mets haven’t ruled out adding a starting pitcher, but view it as a tough add given the market." Alcantara is 5-9 with a 6.66 ERA over 20 starts this season. The 29-year-old won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022 after going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 32 starts. His current contract extension has a $21 million club option for 2027, and he's scheduled to make $17.3 million in both 2025 and 2026. Right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will start for New York against San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.

Seattle Storm Get Big Boost for Sky Game Amid Unexpected Angel Reese News
WNBA

Seattle Storm Get Big Boost for Sky Game Amid Unexpected Angel Reese News

The Seattle Storm are looking to make things right after Tuesday’s 87-63 blowout loss to Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. They get a chance to do so on Thursday when they return to action against the Chicago Sky in a road game at Wintrust Arena. The Storm got a big boost ahead of the Sky matchup, which comes in the form of seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins returning to action after a one-game absence. After registering the first triple-double in WNBA All-Star Game history on Saturday, Diggins was unable to suit up against Dallas on Tuesday due to personal reasons. The 5-foot-9 guard was not listed on Seattle’s injury report for the Sky game, though, which means that Diggins should be back in the starting lineup come Thursday. This is a crucial development for the Storm, who will be looking to improve on their 14-10 record. In 23 games played this season, Diggins has produced averages of 17.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 triples per game. Chicago Sky List Angel Reese as Questionable to Play Against the Seattle Storm While the Storm got some good news ahead of Thursday’s clash, the same cannot be said for the Sky. This is after two-time All-Star forward Angel Reese was added to the injury report with a back problem. The silver lining is that Reese, who missed Chicago’s last game before the All-Star break with a leg injury, is listed as questionable to play, which means that there’s still a chance that she’s able to suit up against Seattle. Reese looked fine on Tuesday as Chicago suffered a 91-68 blowout loss to the Minnesota Lynx, posting an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. It is unclear exactly when Reese sustained the injury, but it has now placed her status against Seattle in jeopardy. It is worth noting that Michaela Onyenwere (knee) and Ariel Atkins (leg) have also been ruled out for the Storm game, as they continue to recover from respective injuries. This only means that Chicago will be significantly shorthanded on Thursday, especially if Reese also ends up sitting out.

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
Wrestling

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy

On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!