The Collegian’s countdown to kickoff series rolls along with just 58 days until Kansas State football kicks off the 2021 season against Stanford in Arlington, Texas.
No. 58 on K-State’s roster is Cartez Crook-Jones, a 6 foot 4 inch, 270-pound junior defensive tackle out of Grandview, Missouri. Crook-Jones has only appeared in two games during his three years with the Wildcats, redshirting his first year in 2018.
The two games Crook-Jones appeared in were both blowout K-State victories. He saw time as a reserve defensive end in K-State’s 52-0 win over Bowling Green in 2019 and as a reserve defensive lineman in K-State’s 55-14 win over KU this past year.
However, in those two appearances, Crook-Jones did not record any statistics.
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Crook-Jones was a three-star prospect out of Grandview High School, with ESPN ranking the defensive end as the 11th best player in Missouri. Crook-Jones also received offers from Iowa State, Missouri, Memphis and Kansas.
Crook-Jones committed to the latter of those four schools in February 2017, planning to spend his playing days 72 miles east of Manhattan as a Jayhawk.
However, after K-State offered him in July 2017, Crook-Jones de-committed from KU on Dec. 10, 2017 — the same day he committed to K-State.
Committed #EMAW18 pic.twitter.com/mAf3Lm3HUF
— Cartez Crook Jones (@CrookCartez) December 10, 2017
Aside from football, Crook-Jones also played basketball in high school for the Bulldogs.
Grandview senior Cartez Crook-Jones finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals yesterday in the first round of the William Jewell College Holiday Basketball Classic. pic.twitter.com/v7PpmOkvHM
— Brent Kalwei (@bkalwei90) December 28, 2017
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As for academics, Crook-Jones is currently majoring in communication studies at K-State.
Crook-Jones’ name was not mentioned to the media throughout spring practice this year. With him only coming into games as a reserve in blowouts over the past two years, it will be interesting to see if his role changes this season.
