Crisp, McCullers live up to their large reputations

Rob Crisp is massive.

Just ask Sanderson wide receiver Matt James, a Wake Forest recruit, who came to the sideline during a 21-14 loss earlier this season and proclaimed, "That boy is big."

Crisp stands 6 feet 8, weighs 290 pounds and is the top-ranked high school player in the state by some analysts. He has been chosen to the North Carolina squad for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

"He is the biggest person I've ever seen," Athens Drive coach Jeff Smouse said.

But if you think Crisp is big, look at Southeast Raleigh's Daniel McCullers.

The 6-foot-7 senior tips the scales at close to 380 pounds, about 100 pounds more than the huge Crisp.

"Daniel definitely is the biggest man I've ever seen," Southeast athletic director Gary Powers said. "And the amazing thing is, Daniel isn't fat. His thighs are the size of my waist. He is just a big man."

In a recent game, McCullers overwhelmed his blocker and powered into the Garner backfield. The runner faked McCullers and ran past him. Later, a spectator was heard to ask, "How can someone so big not make that tackle?"

There is no answer.

"That is just the way it is. You don't make every tackle. Nobody does," McCullers said. "And if I do make the tackle, there is going to be someone saying, 'Well, look at how big he is.' "

McCullers mans the middle of the line on Southeast's defense. No opponent has had much success running up the middle. McCullers isn't the swiftest defender, but he is the stoutest and sturdiest.

McCullers has always been big, but this is the first season he has been an outstanding high school player. He was cut from the middle school team at North Garner and never played football until his freshman year, when he was moved up to the varsity for the playoffs that season.

"A year ago, he'd have to come out for a breather," Finn said. "But he has really worked on his conditioning. He doesn't have to come out much. That has helped us become a much better defensive team."

McCullers weighed 420 pounds at the end of his junior year and knew he had to lose weight.

"It just wasn't healthy being that big," he said. "You can't go through life the size I was."

McCullers worked with Finn during the summer, running laps and learning about nutrition. He still is working on his weight with the goal of shedding another 20 or 30 pounds.

"I'm healthier than I was, but I want to get down to 350 or so," he said.

McCullers is one of the strongest players in the area, with a bench press of more than 375 pounds.

He wants to get stronger and play major college football, he said, "somewhere like South Carolina or Kentucky." But he will probably need to go to junior college first.

He is big and powerful enough and in good enough shape that Finn can sometimes use him on offense, especially in short-yardage situations. Sometimes quarterback Gabe Henderson hesitates a moment and then darts in the furrow plowed by McCullers.

Plowing holes through defenses is what Crisp, an offensive tackle, does best.

The N.C. State recruit is ranked among the best players in the North Carolina and has a national reputation.

"He is a great kid, a great leader. And he is one of the best players you'll ever see," said Smouse, an old offensive lineman himself.

Crisp transferred to Athens Drive in August after his family moved to Raleigh from Chapel Hill.

Smouse knew Crisp was a Wolfpack recruit but didn't know how Crisp would fit in at Athens Drive.

"But he is such a hard worker that he is a natural leader," Smouse said. "Sometimes the really talented guys don't work that hard in practice, but he does. He is so gifted, but he still works as hard as anyone we have.

"That work ethic and the way he carries himself has won everyone over."

Smouse said that you would never know that Crisp was the object of desire by many of the top football programs in the country by talking to him.

"Sometimes guys that are that highly recruited get a little pompous, a little bit full of themselves," Smouse said. "But he's not that way at all. He is just one of the guys. He doesn't think he is any better than the other guys."

Smouse said that he has tried to take advantage of Crisp's abilities but hasn't changed his basic scheme.

"Primarily, we run to his side a lot more than we used to," Smouse said. "But he enhances what we're trying to do rather than cause us to do something else."

Smouse said it is not easy being the biggest player on the field.

"People think that big guys just run around and bump people," Smouse said. "But if you watch Rob during a game or on tape, you are going to see some amazing athletic plays."

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