Hard-Luck Crowell Launches UW Career for Third Time

When University of Washington spring football began on Tuesday, it was a meeting of the old guys and the new guys.

Then there was Charlie Crowell, who might best be described as an old new guy.

He's a 6-foot-5, 260-pound tight end from Bend, Oregon, who's entering his third season with the Huskies and barely had a chance to show what he can do.

In 2024 fall camp, Crowell tore up his knee in what coach Jedd Fisch called a freak injury, had surgery and was lost for the season with a nine-month recovery period.

This past fall, he re-injured the same hinge and missed yet another season.

Charlie Crowell made his return to the Huskies in spring ball after missing the previous two seasons with a knee injury. | Dan Raley

On Tuesday, Crowell reported for duty once more and the Huskies can verify that he made it safely through the afternoon session unscathed.

Whew.

He's a big guy who appears to have decent hands and can run, making him a prototype tight end, which the UW is famous for.

"I'm exited to see what Chuck can do," tight-ends coach Jordan Paopao said. "This will be essentially his freshman year, his first week, his first seven days or so."

As the Huskies ran through near three hours of drills, Crowell could be seen effortlessly pulling in passes over the. middle and running into the end zone, acting like he belonged.

He's still got a ways to go to catch up with junior tight end Decker DeGraaf, who came in with him, plus sophomore Baron Naone and redshirt freshman Austin Simmons, who arrived a year after he did to join the position group.

Football can be an overly harsh endeavor in which injuries can immobilize you and than make you into a forgotten man.

Fisch has tried to be overly optimistic on behalf of the hard-luck tight end when sizing up his situation.

“When you’ve got a lower-body injury, you should come back stronger than ever," Fisch said. "This is an opportunity for him to get his upper body nice and strong, to redshirt and get better and learn the offense, so when it’s his time, he won’t miss a beat.”

Crowell originally signed with Fisch's staff at Arizona and then followed those same coaches to Montlake. In two seasons for Bend's Summit High School, he caught 55 passes for 873 yards and 11 touchdown, making him a desired recruit.

Charlie Crowell makes a catch in 2024 UW fall camp. | UW

Keeping Crowell engaged with his position has been the big thing, with his coaches encouraging him to use his down time in a constructive manner.

"Just in terms of growth, it's been awesome to see what he's been able to do mentally in studying the game and learning the position," Paopao said.

Still, it's not been easy for Crowell at any time since he became a Husky football player. Even on Tuesday.

For instance, while Fisch was speaking with media members following the opening practice, the tight end from Oregon walked behind the coach, alone while headed for the locker room, limping noticeably all the way.