FORMER BRONCHO TURNS RENEGADE

WRITTEN BY SARAH NEESE, PHOTOS BY KT KING

a group of players took the field at Globe Life Park stadium in Arlington, Texas, to kick off the first game of the XFL’s Dallas Renegades. In the huddle of Renegades was Josh Crockett, a former UCO football player, who joined the XFL for

Crockett started from humble beginnings as a player for Bristow High School, a Class 3A high school in Bristow, Oklahoma. Following his graduation in 2013, he became part of UCO head coach Nick Bobeck’s first true recruiting class at Central.

Crockett played for UCO through the 2017 football season, finishing his college career with the Bronchos as sixth on the all-time list for both receptions and receiving yards. From 2014-17, he also made 18 touchdown receptions, just three shy of the UCO all-time record.

“We are very proud of Josh and his accomplishments,” Bobeck said. “Josh was a great kid to coach because he worked in all aspects of his life. If he wasn’t playing football, he would still be successful at whatever he chose.”

It’s this drive that led him to the XFL. However, the XFL isn’t Crockett’s first taste

In 2018, Crockett was signed with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, where he remained until May 2019. Following, he had a brief stint in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, based in Hamilton, Ontario,

The Dallas Renegades, part of the XFL West division, were one of eight total teams in the XFL, which marketed itself as a fan-first, ultraaccessible league that is “true to the game.”

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the XFL indefinitely suspended operations.

Crockett and his teammates were under the leadership of Bob Stoops – yes, that Bob Stoops, of University of Oklahoma fame – who served as the team’s head coach