After a tiring SEC Media Day in July 2022, most of the players flown into Atlanta for the event were fast asleep. However, Mississippi State’s Jaden Crumedy was wide awake, listening to his coach Mike Leach talk about what to do if you encounter a bear. Leach humorously advised to “get bigger than yourself” if faced with a bear. Despite finding the advice amusing, Crumedy admitted it wasn’t particularly useful since he had never encountered a bear. This anecdote was shared by Crumedy on the day he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers, showcasing the quirky nature of Leach’s stories and the diverse experiences Crumedy has had with different coaches in college. He believes these experiences have equipped him well for adapting to new schemes and formations in the NFL, such as the transition from Mississippi State’s 3-3-5 defense to the Panthers’ 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Despite the adjustments he may need to make, Crumedy is confident in his ability to recognize and adapt to different defensive structures due to the similarities he sees between the two systems.
Another SEC alum, Derrick Brown, was excellent in Evero’s 3-4 style. Being one of the NFL’s finest run-stoppers and leading the league in defensive lineman tackles earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl. During his time at MSU, Crumedy amassed a similar reputation with 39 straight starts towards the end of his career, 119 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and five pass deflections. According to his draft report on NFL.com, he has the “potential to become a rotational lineman in odd or even fronts” and is “above-average as a run defender and should continue to improve with better technique.” He is also a little below-average pass rusher. Canales and general manager Dan Morgan have stated they have focused on that since it is highly adaptable.
Crumedy had to learn it by necessity from both his numerous coaches and his teammates, who would go on to become NFL players like Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans and Montez Sweat of the Chicago Bears. Crumedy declared, “I’m all about learning from different players.” And I’m sure they’ll take me under their wing, teach me new things, and make sure I know what I’m doing. I’m willing to study anything, in any format.
