John Tyler High School football player Kitan Crawford is recognized for reciving the Under Armour All-America Game jersey during a pep rally at the school on Friday Oct. 11, 2019. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

When Kitan Crawford first watched the Under Armour All-American Game as a freshman, there was one thing he noticed.

“The main thing that stuck out to me was the jerseys,” Crawford said. “I just liked the jerseys. Me being a kid, I thought it would be nice for me to have that.”

Three years later, Crawford got his wish.

Crawford, a senior running back and defensive back for the John Tyler Lions, was presented with an honorary jersey during a pep rally Friday morning in the Lions Den on the campus of John Tyler High School. The jersey will be framed and remain on campus.

“It’s an honor to be invited to the All-American game,” Crawford said. “It’s a great opportunity to represent John Tyler.”

“It’s a a big deal,” John Tyler head football coach Ricklan Holmes said. “We’ve had some All-Americans here before but to have another one play in the Under Armour All-American Game, it’s a big honor not only for the kid, but for his family, for the community and for John Tyler.”

Crawford joins defensive lineman Ashton Dorsey as the second Lion to participate in the game. Dorsey played in the contest in 2010.

Crawford is one of 100 players around the country that will take part in the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game on Jan. 2, 2020, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The game will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.

Crawford is no stranger to playing on national television. When John Tyler hosted Longview on Sept. 12, the game was on ESPN2, and Crawford picked off the nation’s No. 1 quarterback Haynes King, who will also be in the Under Armour All-American Game.

“That will be great,” Crawford said. “I’m going to try to take a picture with him after the game and switch jerseys.”

Crawford, who is committed to the University of Texas, is ranked as the No. 85 overall player and No. 6 player at his position by ESPN.

Holmes said he recognized at an early age that Crawford had a chance to be special.

“He’s the same kid I said he was going to be as a freshman,” Holmes said. “I knew he had a special skill set to go along with his frame. He’s starting to develop into that player I already knew he could be. The Texas Longhorns are going to be getting a pretty good football player.”

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