It’s not often that the Queen City is home to one of the top college football prospects, but that’s exactly what they have in Harding University High School stand-out Quavaris Crouch. The 6’3″ 222 pound senior, who is slated to graduate in December with a 3.5 GPA, has his pick of any school in the nation. Carolina Blitz spoke exclusively with the 5-star running back about the recruitment process, who’s still in the hunt and where he will make his 5 official visits.
Carolina Blitz: Tell me about what the recruitment process has been like for you so far.
Quavaris: It’s overwhelming at times and now that it’s getting closer there’s more pressure to decide what you want to do and what schools you want to involve in the process. I’m always thinking about it and things change. You can like a school and something happens that alters what you had set.
Carolina Blitz: Where are you at now in the recruiting process?
Quavaris: I will be making official visits to Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Clemson and Southern Cal, however, Tennessee and South Carolina are still in the hunt and have not been ruled out.
Carolina Blitz: What type of player will one of these programs be getting in you?
Quavaris: I’ve been playing football since I was 6 years old and I believe God set it up for me to play football. I’m very religious. So they’ll be getting a religious guy, a hard worker and a team player. I just want to be successful. They’ll be getting a good football player, but a better person. Someone who is understanding and willing to put in the extra work to help others and not just worry about myself.
Carolina Blitz: You’ve been successful at both running back and linebacker. Do you like playing one over the other?
Quavaris: Ummmm. I’m not all the way there with one or the other. I know you’re not supposed to be worried about getting hurt, but having been hurt makes you think differently about your future. Honestly, I do have a lot more fun playing running back . Just running the ball and driving down the field with my linemen and my team. It just feels good getting the ball and scoring a touchdown. Linebacker…I think I’m going to have fun just because I’m playing football, but playing that position would be more of a business decision. But when I get to whatever school I attend that will be something that I talk to the coaches about and they’ll help me pick where I want to play at.
Carolina Blitz: I know you do well in the classroom as well as the football field. What’s your favorite subject?
Quavaris: I like english or language arts. I like reading and writing…learning new things and sharing my opinions. I like reading books and asking others what they think about it.
Carolina Blitz: How does that love for reading and analyzing them help you on the football field?
Quavaris: It actually helps a lot. Before games I read my children’s bible. Reading helps me zone out and focus before games. It just gives me the motivation that God is going to be with me during the game.
Carolina Blitz: What have you liked most and least about the recruitment process?
Quavaris: The thing I like about the recruiting process is just learning. I learn a lot about things I will have to deal with in the future. I like meeting new people and building new relationships and learning more about football. I also like traveling and seeing new places. The thing I don’t like?…I don’t like the business aspect of it at all. And that’s what makes this decision process hard because at this level you can’t tell if people genuinely care about you or if they just like you for your football ability, because if I can’t play football you never know how they’re going to act. This recruitment process makes you grow up a lot faster. It takes away from just being able to be a regular teenager. It’s harder because everyone is always looking to see what you’re doing. It kinda makes your life a little boring.
Carolina Bliz: What’s next?
Quavaris: Just taking these official visits and making a decision hopefully by November 1st.