By LARRY VAUGHT

Even though he was a skilled player, former University of Kentucky receiver Craig Yeast says he can recognize Division I talent. And he says he has a big-time lineman playing for him at Marion County in 6-3, 300-pound Dustin Crane.

“That’s his legitimate size and weight. He can play,” said Yeast, who joined Marion as offensive coordinator this year. “Nobody knows about him. But I know talent and he’s a player. He plays tackle for us, but he’s a legit Division I guard.”

Yeast says Crane has been timed in the 40-yard dash in 5.0 seconds.

“They call him the Crane Train because he can get rolling,” Yeast said. “If we have a chance to have a great team, it will be because of him and 6-2, 275-pound Wes Stayton, who is a Division I-AA prospect. But Crane is the real deal.”

Yeast has been calling friends and contacts in the coaching business, including UK’s Joker Phillips, Troy’s Neal Brown and Middle Tennessee’s Ton Franklin, about Crane in recent weeks after he took the job at Marion.  He’s convinced he could play at Kentucky or another elite Division I program.

“I’m trying to get hold of all the people I can. I didn’t know about him until I got here. A lot of people don’t know about him, but they should,” Yeast said. “He has a 3.3 GPA (grade-point average). He’s already made his (ACT) test score (for freshman eligibility). He’s a great kid. He can laugh and joke, but he’s all business on the field. He can pull out and make a block and then go 20 yards down the field to make another block.

“He is strong as hell, too. Nobody is going to throw him around. To get around him, you better be really good because he’s athletic and tough. He’s just one of those kids you should want on your team because he’s a great kid, pretty athletic, very strong, good student and he’s only going to get better.”

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