Major Key: Crawford leads Auburn defense

AUBURN, Ala. – A high school basketball standout in Memphis, Keyron Crawford did not play organized football until his senior season.

“Basketball helped a lot, being able to be twitchy,” said Crawford, who transferred to Auburn in 2024 after two seasons at Arkansas State. “Applying that to football and being more athletic. Being twitchy, quick and fast has been exciting. It’s a blessing.”

One of the leaders of Auburn’s top 20 defense, Crawford is tied for sixth in the SEC with four sacks while sharing the team lead with seven tackles for loss, recording a TFL in five of Auburn’s first six games.

“The improvement he's had from year one to year two here is pretty drastic in my mind,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. “I think he is more flexible; he's stronger. I think most of the credit goes to our strength staff and (head football strength and conditioning coach) Dom (Studzinski). Just the change in his flexibility and his body, he bends a lot better off the edge. Most of that credit goes to Keyron and his work ethic.”

“That’s pretty much my why,” Crawford said of his consistent quest to improve. “I have seen that. It came from not playing at all to only seeing myself elevate. Being positive has always been my mindset. I’m continuing to improve and get better as the game goes on.”

Auburn linebackers coach Roc Bellantoni entered the season with a list of areas in which Crawford could improve including finishing plays, cleaning up his pass rush plan and having crisper drops into pass coverage.

“He’s young in the game,” Bellantoni said. “He didn’t play a lot of high school football so he’s learning about the game even as he’s playing now.”

The 6-4, 255-pounder needed only half a season to equal his total of 22 tackles from 2024, his first year on the Plains.

“I love his leadership,” Freeze said. “He was one that got a lot of votes for captain and is on our leadership team and is doing a really nice job in all areas of being our voice in the locker room that people listen to.”

Crawford ranks tied for fifth in the SEC with a team-leading 21 quarterback pressures and joins linebacker Xavier Atkins as the two Tigers who have forced and recovered fumbles and made interceptions this season.

“Being versatile,” Crawford said. “That’s what the (National Football) League expects. Showing that is pretty exciting.”

Unsurprised by his dramatic uptick in production, Crawford has now made 102 career tackles, 58 at Arkansas State and 44 so far in a season and a half at Auburn.

“It’s everything I expected because I put a lot of preparation and hard work into it,” Crawford said. “Playing every game like it’s no other.

“I feel like I’m playing better but there’s a lot more I can do. I’ve got to be able to continue to play faster.”

In his second season in the program, Crawford appreciates the reception he’s received. 

“They welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “Being more comfortable with the guys and with my new coach. Being able to be coached is one of the biggest things. It shows a lot because I’m able to play 10 times faster and process a lot more things.

“There’s still a lot of growing that can be done because I don’t have as much experience. That’s been my mindset and focus: continue to grow each and every week.”

DJ Durkin’s Auburn defense is one of eight FBS units in the country to hold opponents to 24 or fewer points in each game this season.

“We have one of the best coaches in the country,” Crawford said. “Being a part of Auburn is probably one of the best decisions of my life.”

Saturday night promises to be a special occasion for Keyron Crawford, who hopes to have two desserts on the menu: birthday cake and revenge.

Crawford intends to celebrate his 23rd birthday this weekend while also enjoying the infamous dish best served cold by avenging last season’s 21-17 loss at Missouri.

“We’ve got to finish 10 times harder because it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Crawford said. “How we start is going to be important but being able to finish our opponents is the biggest thing. 

“That’s unacceptable and it can’t happen again. It won’t leave my mind until I know we’ve got the victory.”

Auburn will try to set Crawford’s mind at ease when the Tigers play their fourth consecutive AP top 20 opponent, No. 16 Missouri, Saturday at 6:45 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

“I love home games, I love Auburn, I love the community, I love our fanbase,” he said. “I came here for them. War Eagle!”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer