Crosby Expected to Return to Clemson on Wednesday

Jan. 7, 2003

Wide receiver Roscoe Crosby informed Clemson wide receivers coach Rick Stockstill on Tuesday that he intends to return to Clemson on Wednesday and start classes for the second semester. He intends to play professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals organization this summer and play college football for the Tigers in 2003.

“We welcome Roscoe back to our team,” said Head Coach Tommy Bowden. “He is a talented player who has a lot of options in two sports. He is an outstanding player and a fine young man who can make a difference.”

Crosby did not attend Clemson this past fall, as he was in Arizona working within the Kansas City Royals minor league system. He had 27 receptions for 465 yards and four touchdowns in 2001. He set a Clemson record for receptions and reception yards in a season by a first-year freshman. His 139 receiving yards in a victory over Duke on December 1, 2001 remain a Clemson record for a freshman. He also caught a scoring pass in Clemson’s Humanitarian Bowl victory.

Other Notes of interest:

Willie Simmons returned to Clemson on Thursday and will go through spring practice. He intends to return to Clemson for his final season of eligibility. The graduate student started Clemson’s first eight games last season and threw for 1554 yards, including a career high 293 yards at Florida State.

Tony Elliott will return for his final year of eligibility. He earned his degree in December, but still has another year of eligibility.Offensive tackle Nick Black will remain at Clemson as a student, but has decided he will not play football in 2003. Black suffered a broken leg against Florida State last year.

Clemson had five players rank in the top 20 of NCAA final statistics for the 2002 season. Justin Miller ranked fifth in the nation in interceptions with eight in his 13 games, a figure that also led the ACC. Miller was also declared the ACC kickoff return champion with his 35-yard average for his 13 returns in 13 games.

Derrick Hamilton was he ACC’s all-purpose running yardage champion for 2002 with an average of 144.8 yards per game. He ranked 20th in the nation in that area. Kicker Aaron Hunt finished 18th nationally in field goals per game with 17 in his 12 games. He was second in the ACC in that area.

John Leake and Rodney Thomas both finished in the top 12 nationally in tackles per game. Leake finished seventh with 169 in his 13 games, while Thomas was 11th with 167 in 13 games.

Clemson will begin Spring practice on Saturday, March 1 and conclude the session with the Spring Game on Saturday, April 5.