Lesean Crooks

Lesean Crooks

Crooks at Rucker Park
No. 2 – Austin Copperheads
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1971-06-16)June 16, 1971 (aged 89) East Harlem, New York, New York, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:	Tamalpais High School
College:	Univesity of California-Berkely
ISFL Draft:	2038 (S23) / Round: 2 / Pick: 20
DSFL Draft:	2037 (S22) / Round: 7 / Pick: 49
Career history
London Royals (2037 (S22)-2038 (S23)) Baltimore Hawks (2039 (S24)-2039 (S24)) Austin Copperheads (2040 (S25)-2040 (S25))
Roster status:	Active

Lesean Paris Crooks (born June 16, 1971) is an American football cornerback drafted by the London Royals of the Developmental Simulation Football League (DSFL) and drafted by the Baltimore Hawks with the 20th overall pick in the S23 NSFL Draft. Crooks currently plays for the Austin Copperheads in the ASFC of the ISFL. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in Season 24 and is a one-time pro-bowler(S24).

Early years

"Crooks was born in East Harlem, New York to parents that belonged to a political liberation group. This caused Crooks to move around frequently during his youth. Crooks spent his early teen years in Baltimore, Maryland, taking a liking to theatre, he eventually landed in the Baltimore School of Arts. Crooks was inspired by [Doug Williams]' performance in [SB XXII] to pursue an athletic career, in addition to his music. Crooks attended Dunbar High before his mom needed to move for a job in Marin City, California.

Crooks spent his last two school years at Tamalpais High, excelling in poetry, theatre, and sports. Crooks skills as a dancer translated to the football field as well. Becoming a California State champion in the triple jump as well as leading Tamalpais to the State Championship game both years. However, inspired by the likes of Ronnie Lott and Steve Atwater, Crooks became a dual threat on both sides of the ball, he placed 3rd in the California State High School Athlete of the Year as a defensive back during his senior year. "

College career

Crooks with Latifah and Capri during a DU tour

"Crooks received several offers from universities, for both sports and performance arts. During his senior year, he missed a high school basketball playoff game to perform with his group, ""Strictly Dope"". The performance landed the group an audition with the Oakland-based hip hop group ""[Digital Underground]"". However, as a consequence, Crooks' team lost the entry round in the state final tournament and were only able to secure 3rd place. This caused several schools to pull their offers, in fear of Crooks committing to music over sport.

After witnessing Crooks perform in the tournament, UC-Berkeley alum and then Phoenix Suns guard, Kevin Johnson recommended Crooks to the athletic department. Crooks, after talking with his group, and deciding to stay close to his mother, chose to enroll at Berkeley. At Cal, Crooks caught the eye of then O-Coordinator [Steve ""Mucc"" Mariucci], ""(Crooks) is smart, versatile, hungry, and willing to learn. He's got a 5-star caliber brain and his potential is scary. I'm glad other schools ran away, we didn't even think we had a chance at him."" Crooks helped lead the defense as a true freshman(51 tck, 2 sck, 3 int) and the Bears, led by QB Mike Pawlawski, made and won their first bowl appearance in 13 years over [Wyoming at the Copper(now Cheez-It) Bowl, 17-15]. In his sophomore campaign, Crooks started every game, amassing 74 tackles, 6 sacks, 9 interceptions(2 for TD), 4 FF, 2 FR, and a punt and kick return TD. Crooks mainly played CB but his speed kept him on the field for spot duty as a special teams ace and return man. In blowouts, he even racked up mop up duty at QB, compiling 4 TD's and 1 int with 61% completion percentage on 44 attempts.

The Bears won 10 games, capped by a dominating [31-7 victory at the Citrus Bowl over Clemson], finishing the season ranked 8th in the AP Poll. Pawlawski won Pac-10 POTY, Crooks however would miss out on DPOTY to Steve Emntman and an All-American spot to Emntman's fellow National Champ teammate, Walter Bailey, of the undefeated UW Huskies. Crooks somehow still managed to become a Heisman finalist, finishing 5th to the electric Desmond Howard of the University of Michigan. At the advice of his soon departed coaching staff, Crooks decided to declare for the NSFL and became a S23 prospect."

College career statistics

Career statistics			Tackles			Sacks	Interceptions		Other					Kick Returns			Punt Returns
Season	Team	Games	Reg	TFL	Total	Sack	Int	IntTD	DefTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety	Yds	Avg	KR TD	Yds	Avg	PR TD
2035 (S20)	ISFL	10	53	6	53	2	3	0	0	2	0	18	0	930	31	0	528	24	0
2036 (S21)	ISFL	14	74	12	74	6	9	2	3	4	2	26	1	1534	27.4	1	627	22.4	1

Use this page to get the stats table template.

Coach Mucc celebrating a TD

Professional career

Season 22

Crooks joined the [DSFL] in S22, where he turned heads at the prospect bowl, after being teammates with future #1 DSFL pick, Greedy Sly. Crooks was selected in round 7 pick #1(49 overall) by the [London Royals]. The Royals entered their second season in the DSFL, after a 5-9 inaugural season. The Royals were picked to finish last in the conference by a fair margin and started with an 0-4 pre-season. The Royals then started the season with a 3-1 record. Crooks quickly emerged as an impact player, forcing and recovering a fumble in a week 2 win against Tijuana and finishing with a season high 15 tackles against Norfolk in a 27-26 win in week 3. The Royals would take on pre-season favorites, Myrtle Beach in week 5 at home and Crooks had his lone interception of the season on a day where the team forced 3 interceptions in total.

Coming into week 6, the Royals were sitting at the top of the league with a 4-1 record, defeating the two teams that played in last season's Ultimini in the process. The Royals surprising success could be accredited to their lethal passing attack, leading the league in passer rating on the second best completion percentage, combined to their strong passing defense --- anchored by Greedy Sly, Bob Bob, Ed Ball at safety, Crooks and Pavel Pipsowitch at corner, and Eric Richards at the SAM linebacker position. The Royals would lead the league in defensive interceptions.

The Royals would endure a midseason swoon wit 5 consecutive losses, dropping them to 4-6 and last place in the division by their week 11 rematch with the first team to defeat them, Portland. The Royals fortune would reverse with a 29-20 victory that allowed them to control their destiny, aided by Crooks' 11 tackles, forced fumble, and two pass deflections. The Royals would enter week 13 needing a crucial victory over solid Dallas Birddogs unit also looking to clinch a playoff spot. Over the course of the final month, London's defense saw a surge from being pushovers to a resistant force as they engaged Dallas in a defensive battle that ended in an 11-8 victory. Crooks finished with 9 tackles and two pass deflections --- including the game-sealing stop on 4th down to end Dallas' final drive.

The Royals would clinch a playoff spot and face off against divisional foe Minnesota for the 3rd time, losing the prior two contests by a combined 45 points. However, the Royals would contain the high-powered Ducks offense long enough to escape the Great Lakes with an 13-10 overtime victory. The Royals would make the Ultimini in their second season and faced Tijuana and held the number one offense to 10 points, however the team would fall 6-10 in the title game. Despite a standout season and being a key contributor to a miraculous season, Crooks failed to secure any pro bowl spots or awards nominations.

Season 23

Ambitious to prove last season was not a fluke, and indeed a change in the DSFL landscape, Crooks, along with a majority of the Royals rookies returned for a second DSFL season. The Royals indeed would only lose one rookie, breakout Linebacker of the Year Eric Richards, to callups with veterans wide receiver Nick Kaepercolin and tight end Donatello Arribiatta. Crooks, who spent his rookie season as a slot cornerback, saw massive gains in his physical condition and moved to the outside corner slot, opposite of Pavel Papsowitch. The duo would create a fearsome tandem in the Royals secondary set on taming every passing attack. Crooks spent most of his offseason riding his bicycle and running uphills to improve his speed. In addition, he accredits his visits to the midlands to his improved dexterity and stamina. Crooks, a fan of both [Wolverhampton Wanderers] and [Leicester City Foxes], would train with the clubs at the facility during off days. He says that players such as Wilifred N'Didi, Will Bony, Raul Jimenez, and Adama Traore really opened his perspective on how underutilized his body was.

Crooks entered the Royals' facilities a new player. Now one of the fastest and most agile players on the squad, Crooks set out to anchor the secondary and be a key cog in the Royal's attempt to return to the Ultimini. After the first two weeks, Crooks amassed six pass deflections, two interceptions, and yielded 71 yards on 5 catches, but the Royals lost both games as they witness newfound struggles integrating new pieces into their offense. In week 3, with covid-19 protocols in full effect, Crooks was unable to fly his family in for the Norfolk game. The young player, trying to hide his emotional strife, could not conceal himself after the Royals blew a double digit 4th quarter lead to the Seawolves, as he stormed out the locker room and was rumored to be driving around early in the morning on the south coast. The Royals seemed down and out, even after securing their first win against Dallas the next week, after they suffered two embarrassing losses to Tijuana and Portland. Crooks, not only a leader on the field, but crafting his name as a locker room leader, repeatedly took the blame off of rookies for the losses. Crooks knew if the rookies became downtrodden, then there would be no hope for the Royals to bounce back.

In week 8 versus Myrtle Beach, against the talented trio of Leeroy Jenkins, Garfield Despacito Jr., and Brock Bodenhammer, Crooks took charge with 3 pass deflections, holding his matchups to 61 yards on 6 catches. After another disappointing loss at home to division rival Kansas City, Crooks vowed that the Royals were in a worse position last year and still managed to pull through, hoping to galvanize the team. The Royals would go on to win their next 5 games, including comfortable back to back road wins against Dallas and Norfolk and a week 13 win against Portland that clinched the Royals playoff berth that saw Crooks finish with his 4th interception of the season. Crooks set the single season and career interception mark for the young Royals franchise with that final interception.

Unfortunately in the playoffs, like last year being on the road against a team that swept them, the Royals fell short, [14-13], to the Kansas City Coyotes. Distraught, Crooks gave a quick but heartfelt piece to his teammates before the media could arrive, knowing it would be the last time he would don the Royals colors. Crooks would finish the season earning a pro-bowl berth, a 3rd place finish for defensive back of the year, and a 5th place finish for defensive player of the year. Crooks would soon head back to the States, to his early childhood home Baltimore, to continue his career in the ISFL.

NSFL career

Crooks' official ISFL rookie season took place during season twenty-four. Crooks departed London after a two consecutive playoff berths to head to his parent club, the Baltimore Hawks. In season 23, the Hawks seemed to finally recover from the losses during the season twenty-two expansion, mainly the departure of long-time quarterback Corvo Harvan, with the emergence of bright, young talent in the likes of Quarterback Chika Fujiwara, Wide Receiver Nick Kaapercolin, Linebacker duo Derred DeVille and Dex Kennedy, and Cornerback duo Ben Stackinpaper and Eldrick Avery. The Hawks saw an emergence from their young players, with breakouts from running back Darrell Williams and Tight End James Lewandowski, in addition to renaissance seasons from longtime veterans, wide receiver Asher Quinn, running back Apollo Reed, and safety Walt Green that propelled the Hawks to an 8-8 season and a playoff berth.

The Hawks and Crooks both had high ambitions for season 24, looking to build further on the success from the prior season and restore the glory in the harbor of the Hawks of old. Unfortunately, the Hawks reverted back to their recent string of losing ways. The Hawks underwent a multitude of changes that dissolved any hope for the future. The Hawks were hurt by multiple factors: the retirement of Apollo Reed, regression of Walt Green, releasing inactive role players such as Guy Nikko, trades that saw the departure of Maverick Bowie and Tyler Montain, and spells of inactivity throughout the roster. The Hawks were near the bottom of the league in nearly every major team statistical category. To further accentuate the turmoil, the Hawks cycled through four different general managers by the start of season 25. However, the Hawks had several bright spots, including Crooks, who met every opponent head on en route to being named Season 24 Defensive Rookie of the Year by a 40-24 gap over second-place Phillip Stein. Crooks played nearly perfect out of the nickelback slot, racking up big plays nearly every week, and forming a lethal conduit with his outside cornerbacks and his two lethal linebackers. Crooks' season had a final christening when he was elected to the ISFL S24 Pro Bowl, one of four rookies to make either roster. The Hawks surely had a steal but the bond would hit a major detour and change course with the major league news announced during the season.

Season 25 Expansion/Forced Exit From Hawks/Free Agency

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40‑yd dash	20‑ss	3‑cone	Vert jump	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	208 lb (94 kg)	4.3 s	4.11 s	7.09 s	32.3 in (0.82 m)	132.4 ft 1,588.8 in (80.71 m)	19 reps	34

Professional career statistics

Career statistics			Tackles			Sacks	Interceptions		Other
Season	Team	Games	Reg	TFL	Total	Sack	Int	IntTD	DefTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety
2037 (S22)	Royals	14	119	1	120	0	1	0	0	2	1	6	0
2038 (S23)	Royals	14	75	0	75	0	4	0	0	0	0	19	0
2039 (S24)	Hawks	16	116	0	116	2	4	0	0	2	1	12	0

Use this page to get the stats table template.

Professional career playoff statistics

Career statistics			Tackles			Sacks	Interceptions		Other					Kick Returns			Punt Returns
Season	Team	Games	Reg	TFL	Total	Sack	Int	IntTD	DefTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety	Yds	Avg	KR TD	Yds	Avg	PR TD
2037 (S22)	ISFL	2	17	1	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2038 (S23)	ISFL	1	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Achievements and records

Season 23

• - DSFL Pro Bowl (CB2)
• - Franchise Single Season INT (4:LON) (Leader for S23-S24)
• - Franchise Career INT (5:LON) (Leader for S23-S24)
• - ISFL Season 24 Defensive Rookie of the Year
• - ISFL Season 24 NFSC Pro Bowl

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