Sophomore linebacker Ryan Crandall (13) had a breakout game as a true freshman against Youngstown State and has been a solid contributor ever since for WIU. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Barry Bottino
Playing three sports in high school didn’t leave Ryan Crandall with much free time.
But the experiences he gained and the bonds he made with teammates have provided some valuable life experiences.
Playing one sport in college – football at Western Illinois – has allowed Crandall to make an impact quickly. He played eight games as a true freshman last fall and has been a mainstay in the WIU lineup at linebacker.
In his first start, just over one year ago against Youngstown State, Crandall piled up 10 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Learn about that game and more about Crandall in our Moving the Chains Q&A interview:
You had a breakout game last season in your first start at WIU. What do you remember about that day?
I was ready to play. I was a little nervous since it was my first start as a college athlete. That game is what you dream of as a kid. My whole family was there, which added a little bit of pressure. It was a special night for me.
You switched your jersey number from 57 last season to 13 this season. Why the change?
I grew up as a No. 4 my whole life. One of our senior tight ends (Tre Maronic) has No. 4. One and three together is four, right? (Laughs)
You were a three-sport athlete in high school. What did baseball and basketball do to help your skills in football?
There were different teammates, different settings. Not only playing football helped me a lot. Getting different experiences in high school was a big thing for me. I love both of those sports, but football was my sport growing up.
Would you encourage younger kids to play multiple sports?
Yes, for the experiences. In basketball, I won a state championship. I got to experience that. In baseball, we went to the state semifinals. I’ve been part of historic teams in high school. Just getting to know a lot of different athletes and kids throughout my high school days is something that you have to experience.
As an Iowa native, can you describe some unique ways people in your home state use Ranch dressing?
One of my good buddies puts it on his spaghetti, which is a little weird. I’m not a huge Ranch guy, so I’m not a true Iowan. (Laughs)
Growing up in Ankeny, Iowa – between Des Moines and Ames – who did you root for as a kid?
My dad (Mark) is a diehard Iowa State fan, so I grew up going to Jack Trice Stadium (for football games). We went to a lot of basketball games. I loved basketball. There were a few good Iowa State players, like Royce White (a first-round pick of the Houston Rockets in 2012), Scott Christopherson (a prolific three-point shooter), Monte Morris (a veteran of three NBA teams), and Georges Niang (now of the Cleveland Cavaliers). I grew up idolizing those guys.
On the football side, you had (current N.Y. Jets wide receiver) Allen Lazard, Hakeem Butler (a veteran of four NFL teams) and (San Francisco 49ers quarterback) Brock Purdy, when I was in high school.
If you had to choose between an Iowa State football game at Jack Trice or a basketball game at ISU’s Hilton Coliseum, which would you choose?
I’d say a Jack Trice night game. They have the all-black jerseys and it gets pretty loud. Any casual day, I’d say Hilton.
You grew up close to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. What’s the best part of the state fair?
I just showed up with all my buddies. (Laughs) It is pretty fun. My dad hates the Iowa State Fair. Me and my buddies would go and wander around and look at all the stuff, eat a lot of food.
What’s underrated about Des Moines?
They have some pretty good restaurants. I take my girlfriend out there.
What was your proudest accomplishment as a high school athlete?
I would say sticking with it. I went to two state championships in the fall, then rolled right into basketball, then I’d roll over to baseball. There was a lot on my plate. I knew in the long run it was going to be worth it and I was going to have a lot of unforgettable memories looking back at my high school days.
What was your biggest adjustment as a college athlete?
Being away from home is hard as a freshman. When I got here, everyone accepted me and brought me in as a brother. Now I feel like I’m at home here.
Tell us about your family.
I have one sister (Kelli). She just recently moved to Phoenix for a job down there. My dad is a financial agent at the Principal building in Des Moines. My mom (Lisa) works at a hospital in Des Moines called UnityPoint Clinic and she’s a marketing guru there.
There’s a photo of you on the Des Moines Register newspaper’s website of you as the Ankeny football team manager in 2016. How young were you when you got involved with the high school program?
It was seventh grade. One of my best friend’s brothers did it and he was telling us how awesome it was and how good of an experience it was. Me and six other kids introduced ourselves to the head coach and asked him if we could do it. He said, ‘You guys have to behave. You have to do all these things.’ It was fun being around the high school kids when you were so young. You thought you were a cool dude (in middle school). Being able to travel with the team was a good experience for how young we were. They helped us a lot.
Other than Hanson Field, do you have a favorite place to spend time on campus?
The little apartment complex I live in (Lexington Concord) is really nice. It’s peaceful.
What’s your favorite place to eat in Macomb?
Sports Corner has some pretty good food.
What is one food or restaurant that you miss from home?
There’s a Culver’s right by my house. I like that place.
Western broke out its new gold jerseys earlier this year. Do you have a favorite uniform combination?
I like the all purple. That’s a clean look. You can really wear anything with it.
Around the Missouri Valley Football Conference, is there a team whose uniforms you really like?
Southern Illinois is pretty slick. I like the maroon and white.
Who is the best player you’ve ever played with in your athletic career?
There was a dual-sport athlete for Ankeny who was getting scouted by MLB teams and he’s now playing quarterback at Central Michigan. His name is Jase Bauer. He’s one of the best shortstops I’ve ever seen, and he’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen.
Who is the best player you’ve ever played against?
It’s got to be Kadyn Proctor. He’s a true freshman who is starting at left tackle at Alabama. We played against him (and his Southeast Polk team) in the state championship game.
There are no major pro sports teams in Iowa, so which teams and athletes do you root for?
I grew up liking the Kansas City Royals a lot. I went to one of the World Series games that they played in (during the 2015 season). I played a lot of defensive back in high school, so I watched the nickel DB players a lot. A good one I liked watching was (former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety) Major Wright.
If you’re having a bad day, who is the teammate who can always make you smile or laugh?
(Wide receiver) A.J. Coons. We can relate a lot. He’s from Iowa too. We have a lot to connect about. He’s a couple years older than me so I remember watching him play basketball when we were at the state tournament (for Solon High School). We still joke about that. He was a really good player.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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