Return of McCraw boosts ETSU's offensive line

Will McCraw didn't play a down on the football field for East Tennessee State in 2025, but he was a shining example of a great teammate. A hand injury meant that McCraw missed what would have been his senior season. It was expected to be a banner year for the 6-foot-4, 265-pound offensive lineman from Georgia. He had started 11 of 12 games his junior year and was projected to be an All-Southern Conference player by Phil Steele. Instead, he was on the sidelines at home games or not with the team at all on some road trips. In between, he participated in every workout he could, and even helped film practices when asked. Now back on the field this spring, McCraw is relishing every moment. He talked about how much the support from ETSU head coach Will Healy and offensive line coach Patrick Covington meant to him. "I'm very excited to be out here and working hard with the guys," McCraw said after Thursday's practice at Greene Stadium. "It was tough watching from the sidelines, and especially the away games, watching on TV. Coach Healy and Coach Cov did a really good job not putting me out to pasture, and keeping me involved in practice." McCraw had hopes of coming back last year, and then was hit with the news it wasn't going to be possible. While the physical pain was one thing, the emotional toll was the toughest for an athlete, competitive by nature. "I had two surgeries, and it was getting the news on the second surgery after I worked so hard over the last spring, trying to get back for the fall, and them saying, I have to get another surgery," McCraw said. "That was very difficult because I worked hard and was expecting to be back on the field with my boys." He's hoping the missed season is just a setback, and maybe even be a blessing in disguise. While he loved playing with previous teammates, he feels an even stronger bond with this year's offensive linemen. "I don't think we were as close last year as we are this year," McCraw said. "If we mess up something, and it hurts the guy next to us, it really gets to us. It's not because we messed up. It's because it's affecting the other guys on the offense." The severity of McCraw's injury means he still wears a cast. That has forced a move from right guard to the left side of the line. It's also kept him from playing center, as he done some in the past. What hasn't changed is the respect of his teammates. The Bucs' other offensive linemen shared some of their thoughts about the end of Thursday's interview. THE BOYS UP FRONT Connor Doeren, a 6-5, 260-pound redshirt sophomore, talked about how he enjoys the fellowship with this season's group. "One thing I like about our unit is we're real tight, and like to hang out, outside of football," Doeren said. "We get along real well, and even when something goes wrong out here, we can turn the page." Mitchell Dunlap, another redshirt sophomore added, "To piggy-back on what Connor said, there's a group of us that hangs out outside of football. The four of us, including Will, have been together here three years now. We've grown that bond where it's bigger than football, more a brotherhood than a friendship." The Bucs have many of the same offensive schemes as last season under new coordinator Brian Blackmon, who was promoted during the offseason. The familiarity with him and the playbook is helping the line gain a true rhythm. "With him being a coach here last year, it's been a big help to us," Eli Greene said. "Everybody has relationship with him, so it's been easy to build a strong bond." Maddox Radcliffe, the anchor of the line at center, talked about the excitement the Bucs have after coming off back-to-back 7-5 seasons. ETSU ended last season with a 28-26 win over The Citadel to cap off a four-game winning streak. "I think we have a really good chance to have a really good season," Radcliffe said. "We have a lot of talent, although talent can only take you so far. This spring and the upcoming fall camp, we're going to work hard and push ourselves the best we can."