Offensive tackle Rob Crisp set to rejoin N.C. State Wolfpack after medical withdrawal

Aug. 27--The longest eight months of Rob Crisp's young life were spent waiting for a telephone call that finally came early last March.

A concussion suffered by the offensive tackle in N.C. State's second game of the 2013 season had forced Crisp to leave school briefly on a medical withdrawal and was threatening to end his college career prematurely.

Crisp, a senior, had returned to school but was awaiting a decision by the NCAA on whether to declare him a hardship case and grant an extra year of eligibility.

"It's a troubling experience when you don't know what people (NCAA) are going to do," Crisp said recently. "But I have amazing trust in our coaching staff. I put it in their hands."

The N.C. State staff had been so caring in dealing with Crisp that he thought head coach Dave Doeren was calling to check on him on that March day.

"I definitely didn't know the (real) reason he was calling, but thank God he did," said Crisp.

Doeren was calling to tell Crisp that the NCAA would allow him to rejoin the Wolfpack for the 2014 season.

The decision marked the end of a life-changing ordeal for Crisp and added a potential NFL prospect to N.C. State's offensive line corps.

Crisp will start at left tackle when the Wolfpack opens the year against Georgia Southern on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. But it will be a different player, and person than the one who arrived in Raleigh amid great fanfare in 2010.

Crisp was rated No. 1 prospect in The Fayetteville Observer's annual list of the state's top college prospects as a senior at Raleigh'sAthens Drive High School. The Wolfpack beat out high-profile programs like Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee for Crisp's services and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup for the first game of his freshman year.

Injuries and inconsistent play, however, prevented Crisp from truly reaching his potential over the next four seasons.

But during those anxious days when Crisp was waiting for the NCAA's decision, he gained a new perspective.

"Not having football hurt me a lot," Crisp said. "But I realized this was a chance for everyone to see what my true colors were in terms of how much the game really means to me. It was second chance to show everyone this is where I want to be and what I want to be doing."

Doeren noticed the difference immediately when Crisp returned to the team for spring practice last April. He saw a more mature and focused Crisp, and an athlete who could be pivotal to N.C. State's 2014 season.

"I'm excited for him," Doeren said. "When he's on, he's a really good football player. He's long, athletic and he has very good volume and command when he's talking to player on the team. He's been a good leader."

Junior transfer quarterback Jacoby Brissett is one player who is thankful to have the 6-foot-7, 300-pound Crisp protecting his blind side.

"Look at him ... he's a big dude," Brissett said. "With him at left tackle, it's insurance. I know I don't have to worry about that side."

Crisp is anxious to get the 2014 season underway, and plans to enjoy every second of it.

"It's a blessing to be back out here," Crisp said. "I feel like everything happens for a reason. Things didn't go the way I intended personally or for our team last year. That put a bad taste in our mouths.

"But each day our entire team is getting better. We're working to win a championship, and I'd say we're in a perfect position right now."

Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at [email protected] or 486-3534.

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