For most high school football programs, an 8-4 season, which included a trip to the second round of the playoffs, would suggest that it was more than satisfying. In the case of Warren G. Harding High School, time has proven that it was just the beginning as it jump started a momentous offseason as on Sunday, senior Marcus Crum Jr. became the fifth Raider to commit to the next level as he’ll continue his academic and athletic career at Waynesburg University.
He joins classmates and early signees Chaz Coleman (Penn State), Airiz Coleman Bey (Brown University), and Stephen Sims (Youngstown State) while on January 14, Kenneth Byrd Jr. committed to Baldwin Wallace University.
Crum couldn’t be more thrilled to join the group of young men that will soon embark on bigger things beyond high school.
“It feels great to commit to the next level,” he said. “To know that Waynesburg believes in me and trusts my abilities means a whole lot.”
Crum finished his high school football career with his best season yet as he led the Raiders with 35 catches for 350 yards and six touchdowns which resulted in All-Trumbull County Honors. He finished his career with 53 catches for 531 yards and six touchdowns. His 35 catches in 2024 is the sixth highest single-season total in Harding history while his 53 career grabs is tied with 2024 alum Naujeat Jones for ninth all-time.
His workload on offense caught the eye of the coaches at Waynesburg.
“They recruited me to play wide receiver,” Crum added. “I plan on majoring in Business & Entrepreneurship.”
The aforementioned 8-4 record that Harding posted this past football season marked the first time that current senior class ever finished with a winning record. Crum credits the current coaching staff, headlined by new head coach Matt Richardson, for the change in the team’s mentality across the board.
“My coaches helped me grow as a player,” Crum said. “They showed me how to be an unselfish team player and, most importantly, how to be an even better person both on and off the field.
“They taught me that nothing in life is handed to you. You have to work hard for everything that you get, so I worked on my game, improved my grades, and did what I had to do to open up more opportunities for myself.”
As much as Crum credits Harding’s coaching staff for preparing him for the next chapter of his life, Richardson is equally proud of the progress that he has made.
“It’s always the goal of a coach to see athletes mature both on and off the field,” Richardson said. “Marcus is a great example of that and we are all very proud of him.”
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