Kevin Craft
Encyclopedia
Kevin Craft is a former college football
quarterback
at UCLA
, who played for the Cougars de Saint-Ouen l'Aumône, France in France.
and was an excellent student and a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was a three year letterman and earned All-California Interscholatic Federation honors. Kevin Craft graduated from Valley Center High School in 2005.
, where his father, former SDSU Aztecs
quarterback Tom Craft
, was head coach
. Arriving in 2005, Craft redshirt
ed his first year; his father was fired at the end of the season and replaced by Chuck Long
. Craft remained and, as a redshirt freshman, appeared in nine games and started five as the Aztecs went onto a 3-9 record in 2006; he had a 109.8 passer rating. In his first career start at San Diego State, Kevin Craft completed 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards against BYU.
(Mt. SAC) in Walnut, California
during the 2007 season; again for his father Tom, who became the offensive coordinator
at Mt. SAC.
for the UCLA Bruins Football team
after the two veteran starters, Ben Olson
and Patrick Cowan
, both fell to extended injuries. In the Bruins opener for the 2008 season
, Craft led the Bruins to a 27-24 victory against 18th ranked Tennessee
in overtime. After throwing 4 interceptions in the first half he came back to complete 18 of 25 passes for 193 yards and 1 TD in the second half.
The Bruins finished the season with a record of 4-8 (3-6 Pac 10) and failed to participate in a post-season bowl game. He competed with Kevin Prince
and freshman Richard Brehaut
for the quarterback position in 2009.
In the 2009 Washington game at the Rose Bowl, Craft came in after Kevin Prince
went out to guide the Bruins to a one point victory, 24-23, and an end to the team's five straight Pac-10 conference losses. He had 10 of 14 completions for 159 yards with an interception.
.
Every team in the French national championship has the ability to sign two American players. Kevin decided to choose this challenge over his coaching job in order to help the Cougars to reach the national title. Craft chose the Cougars despite a late offer from the CFL's Calgary franchise.
During the 2010 season, Kevin completed 216 of 398 passes for 2,851 yards, 28 TDs and 13 INTs. He rushed for 245 yards and scored 4 TDs.
, who came back to UCLA to finish his degree.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, who played for the Cougars de Saint-Ouen l'Aumône, France in France.
High school years
Craft attended Valley Center High School in Valley Center, CaliforniaValley Center, California
Valley Center is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 9,277 at the 2010 census, up from 7,323 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Valley Center is located at ....
and was an excellent student and a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was a three year letterman and earned All-California Interscholatic Federation honors. Kevin Craft graduated from Valley Center High School in 2005.
SDSU
Craft originally attended San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, where his father, former SDSU Aztecs
SDSU Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs are the collegiate athletics and sports teams for San Diego State University .San Diego State has organized programs for baseball, basketball, football, soccer, golf, gymnastics, rowing , softball, tennis, track, swimming, diving, women's volleyball, and water polo.The...
quarterback Tom Craft
Tom Craft
Tom Craft Craft is presently the head football coach at Riverside Community College in Riverside, CA, and was previously the head football coach at San Diego State University from 2001-2005 and at Palomar College in San Marcos, CA from 1983-2000...
, was head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. Arriving in 2005, Craft redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
ed his first year; his father was fired at the end of the season and replaced by Chuck Long
Chuck Long
Chuck Long is an American football coach. He played quarterback in college at Iowa for Hayden Fry and professionally with the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. He is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame. In the January 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine he was chosen as one of...
. Craft remained and, as a redshirt freshman, appeared in nine games and started five as the Aztecs went onto a 3-9 record in 2006; he had a 109.8 passer rating. In his first career start at San Diego State, Kevin Craft completed 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards against BYU.
Mt. SAC
Craft transferred from SDSU after the season and played football at Mt. San Antonio CollegeMt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio College is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, 2.12 miles west of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ....
(Mt. SAC) in Walnut, California
Walnut, California
Walnut is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2010 census and its current mayor is Tom King, a former Detective from the Los Angeles Police Department....
during the 2007 season; again for his father Tom, who became the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
at Mt. SAC.
UCLA
Craft transferred to UCLA in time for the 2008 spring practices. He soon found himself in as the starting quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the UCLA Bruins Football team
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
after the two veteran starters, Ben Olson
Ben Olson
Benjamen James Olson is an American football quarterback. He played for the UCLA Bruins football team. He excelled in football at Thousand Oaks High School, earning high school All-American honors in 2001....
and Patrick Cowan
Patrick Cowan
Patrick Edmund Cowan is a free agent American football quarterback. He was previously the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins football team after starter Ben Olson was injured in the middle of the 2006 season. Cowan was a redshirt sophomore...
, both fell to extended injuries. In the Bruins opener for the 2008 season
2008 UCLA Bruins football team
The UCLA Bruins football team opened the 2008 campaign by playing its first game at home against Tennessee under new head coach Rick Neuheisel, at 5:00 p.m. at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The Bruins played six of the Top 25 teams in the 2007 final Associated Press rankings,...
, Craft led the Bruins to a 27-24 victory against 18th ranked Tennessee
2008 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2008 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team was coached by head football coach Phillip Fulmer, in his 16th and final season as head coach. The Vols played their home games in Neyland Stadium and competed...
in overtime. After throwing 4 interceptions in the first half he came back to complete 18 of 25 passes for 193 yards and 1 TD in the second half.
The Bruins finished the season with a record of 4-8 (3-6 Pac 10) and failed to participate in a post-season bowl game. He competed with Kevin Prince
Kevin Prince
Kevin Prince is an American football quarterback. He played at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California. He is a redshirt junior at UCLA, the starting quarterback for the team...
and freshman Richard Brehaut
Richard Brehaut
Richard Brehaut is a college football quarterback at UCLA.Brehaut played high school football and baseball at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he was a member of PrepStar Dream Team and SuperPrep All-American. He was rated as a top ten quarterback by rivals.com,...
for the quarterback position in 2009.
In the 2009 Washington game at the Rose Bowl, Craft came in after Kevin Prince
Kevin Prince
Kevin Prince is an American football quarterback. He played at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California. He is a redshirt junior at UCLA, the starting quarterback for the team...
went out to guide the Bruins to a one point victory, 24-23, and an end to the team's five straight Pac-10 conference losses. He had 10 of 14 completions for 159 yards with an interception.
Cougars
In 2010, Kevin signed with the Cougars de Saint-Ouen l'Aumône, France. The Cougars play in the highest level of competition in France (Division 1) and in the EFAF CupEFAF Cup
The EFAF Cup is an international competition for European American Football clubs. The EFAF Cup is the second highest level of club competition in the European Federation of American Football , behind the European Football League ,.- EFAF Cup :...
.
Every team in the French national championship has the ability to sign two American players. Kevin decided to choose this challenge over his coaching job in order to help the Cougars to reach the national title. Craft chose the Cougars despite a late offer from the CFL's Calgary franchise.
During the 2010 season, Kevin completed 216 of 398 passes for 2,851 yards, 28 TDs and 13 INTs. He rushed for 245 yards and scored 4 TDs.
Personal
Craft majored in sociology and participated in the 2009 UCLA commencement ceremony with former quarterback Troy AikmanTroy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
, who came back to UCLA to finish his degree.