Junior Dion Crawford’s versatility hasn’t surprised the University at Buffalo’s football team.
Defensive coordinator Joe Bowen lost key players such as Shaun Dolac to the NFL, but Buffalo’s defense has become one of the nation’s sack leaders behind Crawford and Red Murdock.
Primarily positioned as an edge rusher in 2024, many of Crawford’s snaps this fall have been at linebacker for UB (2-3, 1-0 Mid-American Conference). The Bulls’ 17 sacks are the fourth most in the country as they enter their second MAC game of the season against Eastern Michigan (1-4, 0-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at UB Stadium in Amherst.
“It’s been a little rough change. There’s a lot of different pieces,” said Crawford, a Lawrenceville, Ga., native who is studying business administration.
Buffalo’s sack total is tied with USC and only trails Tennessee (20), Arizona State (19) and Western Michigan (18). Crawford, who won a high school state championship with Travis Hunter, recorded both of his sacks this season against Troy on Sept. 20, when UB’s seven-sack performance placed the Bulls in a four-way tie for No. 1 in America.
“(I’m) extremely, extremely proud of him. And I just think the world of him as a human being. I think he’s a great asset on this campus, and obviously one of our best players,” UB coach Pete Lembo said.
‘Blessed with versatility’
Starring at Collins Hill High School, Crawford said he primarily played defensive end outside of off-the-ball packages. It has been the opposite this year at Buffalo, playing many snaps at linebacker, with some edge rusher mixed in.
Crawford arrived at Buffalo as a freshman linebacker. He transformed into a unique edge rusher as a sophomore, lining up at nickel corner in larger personnel packages, and backing up Dolac and Murdock as UB’s third linebacker.
“I was blessed with versatility. I was blessed to be able to do that,” Crawford said. “I just thank God and just try my best and do what I can do to help my team.”
Crawford is a student of the game. His intellect, skill set and physical frame allow him to succeed at many roles. Lembo credited Bowen for challenging the 6-foot-1, 232-pound Crawford, who has matured into his role on and off the field.
“Now, he’s at a point where he’s earned everybody’s respect, and his word means something because he backs it up,” Lembo said.
From Lawrenceville to Buffalo
Crawford was a highly touted recruit from Collins Hill.
The two-time all-state first-team selection helped “The Hill” win the program’s first state championship his junior year in 2021. Hunter, Crawford’s teammate at Collins Hill, was a two-way star for the Eagles before winning the Heisman Trophy at Colorado and getting drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As a high school senior, Crawford collected 123 tackles and 11 sacks. Crawford called his recruitment process “shaky” before becoming a Bull.
“Buffalo really showed how much they care for me as a person, and how much they actually wanted me, versus other schools,” Crawford said. “So, I kind of just (stuck) with a more family-oriented program.”
Crawford was overly emotional early in his college career, Lembo said. He has become a more poised player who has grown into a leader, garnering respect as an enforcer and with his work ethic. Crawford was an All-MAC third teamer with 8.5 sacks in 2024. He has 41 tackles with a pair of 12- and 14-tackle performances this season.
“Any good team has got to have some enforcers,” Lembo said. “They’ve got to have some guys that are not afraid to get in your face to uphold the standards on the practice field and in the locker room. And that’s where I’m seeing a lot of growth from Dion.”
Return to the MAC
If anyone at UB is ready for Eastern Michigan, it’s Crawford.
He displayed one of his best games as a Bull in last year’s 37-20 win against the Eagles. One of Crawford’s three sacks went for a safety, using a stunt to tackle former UB quarterback Cole Snyder.
This year, Buffalo won its lone MAC contest in come-from-behind fashion at Kent State. The Bulls have since dropped consecutive losses to Troy and UConn. Eastern Michigan also is hungry for a win after a 24-13 loss to Central Michigan.
Crawford complimented the Eagles’ athletes and misdirection schemes on offense, but he is confident for a 2-0 MAC start.
“They’re a great team. But if we do our job like we’re supposed to do our job, it shouldn’t be an issue, at all,” Crawford said.
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Marquel Slaughter
College sports reporter
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