US college punter Mitch Crawford has taken the next step towards an all-important "senior year" for his American football career having scored an offer "too good to turn down".
The former Lambton High School student, who switched sporting codes to gridiron in early 2017 after helping Australian rules football club Newcastle City win the Black Diamond Cup, has signed for Michigan State University.
He joins the Spartans this year following an initial two seasons with the University of Texas at El Paso, located at the opposite end of the country, and wants to keep making good impressions.
"I think I've definitely improved getting the attention of a big school like that," Crawford told the Newcastle Herald.
"For punters and kickers it's all about your senior year and how you do there rather than your whole college career.
"So I'm just looking to win the job at Michigan state first and then have a good season and see if I can be offered an opportunity somewhere."
Crawford, who is studying communications and social sciences, said the transfer came because he graduates this month but still has another year left to play. He'll now continue in the classroom with a masters in education.
"I was looking at options for graduate school and Michigan State offered, so being at a big school like that was too good to turn down," the 25-year-old said.
Crawford averaged 39 yards per punt in his opening two seasons, featuring a career-best 66-yard kick and game-high 471 yards.
The upcoming campaign, due to start in September, remains in limbo because of the global coronavirus pandemic but July 20 has been touted as a potential deadline to decide if, or how, games proceed.
He is currently staying in Dallas with the family of his El Paso roommate and says "the mood varies depending where you are located" across COVID-19 ravaged America.
"Here in Texas I think it's in the middle," Crawford said.
"People are a little annoyed and frustrated that you cant do things you normally do, but also understand why and have adjusted and are following the guidelines pretty well."
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