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2 Crocketts Better Than 1 For Bucs

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By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - If Berkeley Prep is going to make the 2008 state playoffs, it will likely rely heavily on two of its most talented players: twins Julian and Jordan Crockett.

The Crocketts possess the type of speed and athleticism that's not always abundant in Class 2B. And that's why second-year coach Dominick Ciao plays this duo virtually non-stop.

"Last year, they didn't come off the field for us," Ciao said. "They were high-energy players and left everything on the field in every game for us. They're both just fierce competitors and play hard every snap."

And it's not just football. The Crocketts have also played soccer for the Bucs since their freshman year and, following a one-year hiatus in order to focus on football, say they will be out for track in the spring.

Right now, however, these 5-foot-7, 150-pound speedsters are focused entirely on their senior football season. Jordan expects to see most of his duty at cornerback and wide receiver, as well as some limited action at running back. Julian will line up at the other corner, and as a running back.

Berkeley went 5-5 last year and, at 0-3 in district play, failed to reach the playoffs. Returning to the postseason is the main goal of the Crocketts and both believe the Bucs' district-opening game vs. Clearwater Central Catholic on Oct. 10 will be the key to their season. Last fall, CCC won 13-10 and the Bucs won just two more games the rest of the way.

Berkeley still needs to find a solid replacement for departed quarterback Archie Barnes, who signed with Vanderbilt, but the Crocketts believe the team's work ethic and ability to play hard all four quarters will overcome just about any player loss.

"I feel like we're working a lot harder than last year," Jordan said. "We gave away a lot of games in the fourth quarter. Coach Ciao threw out a stat the other day that in eight of our games last season, we were leading going into the fourth quarter and wound up losing five of them."

The Crocketts say having a full season with Ciao under their belts is also a big plus.

"Last year was our first season with a new coach and a new system," Julian said. "We weren't always sure exactly what to do or what he expected. Now we've been with Coach Ciao a full year and we know what he wants and we know his system."

Together on the field almost non-stop, the Crocketts believe they can make a difference this season. Besides owning 4.5-second speed for the 40-yard dash, they have a bond that few teammates can boast.

"We always seem to know what the other one is going to do," Julian said. "We were at a camp a few years ago and I caught a pass and, somehow, I just knew Jordan was going to come behind me. So I just flipped it back to him as fast as I could and he caught it and ran down the field for a touchdown.

"People were saying 'That's not fair, they shouldn't be allowed to be on the same team together,'" Jordan said.

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