Craig

BUTLER TWP— When a football team comes off a 1-10 season, a lot of positions generally become available.

Randy Craig is counting on it.

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Butler offensive lineman recently accepted a partial scholarship from Clarion University. The Golden Eagles were 1-10 under first-year head coach Jay Foster last season.

And, yes, a lot of positions are available.

"You always count on your upperclassmen to play and lead you through things,"Foster said. "That's the ideal situation.

"But when you're 1-10, that changes. I've made it clear that all of our spots are wide open. Nobody will be coming to camp with a job already won."

Former Butler coach Garry Cathell said Craig could play guard, tackle or center in college.

"He's a versatile lineman who has only missed one game in each of the past two years,"Cathell said. "He knows how to play with pain. His body is going to fill out nicely. Randy has all the tools to become a great college lineman."

Craig was recruited by Slippery Rock, California (Pa.), Clarion and Marietta (Ohio) before deciding on the Golden Eagles. They were the only team to offer him even a partial scholarship.

"That's not the only reason I'm going there, though,"Craig said. "I like the staff, and they're putting the right pieces together. It's a good school to get a degree from.

"Their centers and guards are juniors and seniors. They lost a couple of starting tackles, and if I'm going to play right away, it will probably be there."

Foster concurred.

"He's a little undersized for tackle at this level, but his quick feet give him an edge there,"Foster said. "We know he can pass block because of Butler's offense."

Craig started at tackle for two years with the Golden Tornado. He played some center as a sophomore.

Clarion recruited four other offensive linemen:6-8, 319-pound Bob Beidl of Clarion-Limestone, 6-2, 230-pound John Greager of Pine-Richland, 6-0, 305-pound Sam Kephart of Curwensville and 6-5, 270-pound Elijah Morris of Brookville.

"I'll play defensive line, if that's what they want,"Craig said. "I just love to play football.

"I guess I'm going up there with a little chip on my shoulder. I want to prove those other schools wrong for not offering me."

If Craig doesn't land a starting position, he likely will be redshirted. Foster isn't so quick to keep him off the field for a year, however.

"He has an excellent chance to play for us right away,"the coach said. "He's physically put together really well and he's ahead of the game in terms of college ball because of all that pass blocking he's done."