Crockham battling back

Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern class of 2014 running back Jamitreus Crockham saw his star rise this past off-season with several impressive camp and tournament performances. He was supposed to further that momentum this season before suffering a tremendous setback.

"We were at practice and they were throwing a pass to one of my teammates," Crockham recalled. "I jumped in the air to tip it away and just landed the wrong way."

The play, which took place during summer practices, tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in Crockham's knee and required two surgeries, but Crockham has attacked the rehabilitation process with intensity and is progressing well.

"I'm already walking and getting back to a light jog," Crockham reported. "My spirits are still high and I'm on the path to come back. My doctors think I am coming back pretty strong because I am walking. They said I could be 100 percent maybe before spring."

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Crockham is best known as a running back, but he also starred at wide receiver for his AWP 7-on-7 team this off-season and has the potential to play on the defensive side of the football as well. Toledo had offered Crockham before his injury and a number of college programs continue to recruit him through the rehabilitation.

"Purdue actually sent me some handwritten motivational stuff every week," Crockham said. "They were telling me to keep going and not have this be a setback. That means a lot - someone is thinking about me and wondering how I am doing."

Crockham has also started making some unofficial game visits to college campuses. This past weekend he was in Ann Arbor to see Michigan's overtime victory.

"That game was pretty cool," Crockham said. "I got to see a lot and just being around the fans in the Big House was pretty cool. When I saw Roy Roundtree make that catch, you could hear everybody gasp and when he caught it all the life came right back into the stadium."

Saturday's trip was Crockham's first time being at Michigan as a recruit and he spoke with their running backs coach and defensive coordinator during the visit.

Crockham also visited Indiana for a game earlier this fall and he would like to get out to a Ball State or Louisville game before the season is over. All the while he will be fighting to overcome the injury that took away his junior season.