Minnesota’s depth and experience at the wide receiver position has taken a hit, albeit not an out-of-the-blue one.
In a statement Monday, head coach Jerry Kill acknowledged that Devin Crawford-Tufts has decided to leave the Gophers football program to concentrate on track. The decision was a couple of months in the making, and one that the coach has signed off on.
“Devin and I have met multiple times over the past couple of months, and he has decided to focus on track and field for the upcoming season,” Kill’s statement read. “Devin is a fine young man. We wish him well and will be rooting for him.”
After joining the Gophers’ track team in February, Crawford-Tufts finished fourth in the 60-meter dash at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.
Last season as a sophomore, Crawford-Tufts finished fourth on the team in both receptions (16) and receiving yards (189). His lone touchdown in 2012 came in the Gophers’ three-point bowl loss to Texas Tech.
For his career, Crawford-Tufts caught 24 passes for 345 yards.