Fred Crawford

Bio

Explosive quickness and an aggressiveness made Fred Crawford one of the best lineman in the south during the 1930s. Crawford was Duke University's first consensus All-American selection in 1933. He was a second-team pick in 1932. Crawford's blocking and tackling skills combined speed, strength and deception. Hall of Famer Wallace Wade became Duke's head coach in 1931 during Crawford's first varsity year, stating that the lineman was one of the finest and quickest he ever coached. Tennessee Hall of Famer, Bobby Dodd, called him "one of the best tackles, if not the best, to play in our section of the country from 1930 to 1940." During Crawford's three varsity seasons, the Blue Devils compiled a record of 21-7-2. The 1933 team finished 9-1 and captured the Southern Conference championship. The only loss came in the final game of the season, 6-0 to Georgia Tech. Years later, Fred would be named to the all-time sectional team for the South. After a brief motion picture career, Crawford played professional football with the Chicago Bears, then served in the Air Force during World War II. After the war, Fred settled in Florida where he worked for the State Motor Vehicle Department.

Career Highlights

• 1933 All-Conference
• 1933 Consensus All-America
• 1932 Second Team All-America