Junior safety Brayon Crawford starts his days with early mornings on Schoellkopf Field and late nights in the library. Graduating early would be an exceptional accomplishment for any student — when it comes to a student who is also balancing being a double-major and a Division I football player, this achievement becomes remarkable.
Growing up in the small town of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, the importance of football was always important to Crawford and his family. His older brother, Quinton, introduced him to football at six years old. Crawford explained that his connection to the game is exactly what led to his love for it.
“Where I'm from, everybody plays football,” Crawford said. “It's just what you do. My family, everybody around me and a lot of older role models in my life. It's always been football.”
Besides playing football, academics have also always been a top priority for Crawford, even in high school. As a first-generation student, Crawford told The Sun that he takes “pride” in his academic performance.
“I've always been taught that the biggest elevator of social class and economic prosperity is education,” Crawford said. “None of my family went to college. I'm a first-generation [college student], so I've always taken pride in my academics since I started school.”
Crawford’s work ethic throughout high school would not go unnoticed. An offer to play football at Cornell presented him with the opportunity to continue his story on the highest academic and athletic level.
Once at Cornell, Crawford would continue to demonstrate just how dedicated he is to his goals on the field and in the classroom. While playing for the Red, he enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and double-majored in environmental sustainability and information science. Though the journey was one that was difficult to achieve, he never let it sway him from his goals.
“I've struggled in the classroom and on the field, but I never let it put me down,” Crawford said. “I always kept the greatest purpose in mind. That was just putting my family in a better situation. So I've just worked hard towards that.”
Throughout his football career at Cornell, Crawford secured 23 total tackles, two tackles for losses, and two pass break ups in 14 games played for the Red.
This past season, he played a key role in the Red’s strong defensive stand against No. 22/25 Harvard, an FCS powerhouse. He provided stellar pass protection, making it difficult for his opponent to operate its pass-heavy offense. He would finish the game having secured four total tackles.
Crawford will walk across the graduation stage at the end of the academic year, officially closing this chapter of his life. Though his time at Cornell will have been much shorter than most students, the memories he gained will remain close to him.
“Friends on and off the field are relationships that I'll carry for the rest of my life,” Crawford said when asked about his favorite memories at Cornell. “I'm highly appreciative of everybody I met along the way, that helped me to get to this point. I'll never forget that.”
While Crawford’s journey at Cornell is coming to an end, his football career is only getting started. He still holds three years of eligibility to play college football, and wants to take full advantage of that. His extended eligibility stems from being a medical redshirt during his freshman year, redshirting this past season, and a third year of eligibility awaiting final approval.
Crawford has recently announced that he will enter the transfer portal to see where his football journey will take him after he graduates from Cornell. He is ranked as a three-star recruit and top 50 recruit in his position nationally. This ranking makes him one of the best available safeties in the entire transfer portal.
“I'm coming in as a guy with game experience, and I have a high level of knowledge for the game,” Crawford said. “I'm a very smart player on and off the field, so I think that's a great selling point that I have.”
A profound understanding of the game is necessary when adapting to a new program and football system. According to Crawford, his understanding of the game and drive to succeed are qualities he will bring to his new team.
“I think what a school is going to gain for me is a guy that wants to win and is going to help the team achieve their goals whatever way that I can,” Crawford said.
Throughout his collegiate career, Crawford believes he has proven that he is a dedicated player and does not let adversity stop him from achieving his goals. Crawford told The Sun that whatever coach gets him on their roster will be obtaining a team-first player that is ready to compete and put the work in.
“I have a lot of football under my belt, I have a lot of football left to play,” Crawford said. “I'm excited to go somewhere to compete, further my education, and help a team win.”
Rewriting the Playbook is a recurring series covering the unique stories that have continued to shape Cornell’s football program. It is produced by Matthew Leonard.
Matthew Leonard is a member of the Class of 2028 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He is the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. He can be reached at mleonard@cornellsun.com.
