The 2007 season was supposed to be Crooks' coming out party and time to gain national attention. The Badgers were expecting big things from their senior, who was suppose to team with Travis Beckum to give Wisconsin the best pair of tight ends in college football. But a preseason hamstring injury lingered throughout his final campaign, limiting Crooks to eight games and just three starts.

Having joined the Badgers as a middle linebacker, Crooks made a successful switch to tight end as a junior. With experience at fullback and also as a gunner on special teams, Crooks' versatility could entice an NFL team to give him a long look in training camp. Teams using a 3-4 defensive alignment could also look to switch him back to his previous college position, as he had good success playing middle linebacker during his first two seasons at Wisconsin.

Crooks was a Prep Star All-American selection at Wausau High School, where he also captured first-team All-State honors. He was the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's state Player of the Year as a senior and ranked among the top 60 players in the Midwest by Super Prep. He was also rated among the top five players in Wisconsin by Rivals.com.

As a senior, Crooks made 122 tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered three fumbles as a linebacker. He also rushed for 309 yards and seven touchdowns as a fullback. He added 74 tackles and a fumble recovery as a junior. He earned nine letters, three each in football, basketball and track, as he captained the basketball team twice and the football squad once. He was a state qualifier in the shot put as a junior and senior, and a National Honor Society member.

Crooks made a big splash at Wisconsin in 2004, starting five of 12 games he appeared in at middle linebacker. The Sporting News' Freshman All-Big Ten Conference selection was also named the team's co-Rookie of the Year. He recorded 38 tackles (11 solos) with a sack and returned an interception 11 yards for a touchdown.

In 2005, he started just the Illinois clash while playing in 13 games at middle linebacker. He collected 18 tackles (12 solos) with a sack, pressure and pass deflection. During 2006 spring drills, the coaches shifted him to tight end, where he started 11 games, adding two more starts at fullback vs. Minnesota and Purdue. He grabbed 19 passes for 206 yards (10.8 avg) and four touchdowns, as he also came up with three solo tackles.

Hamstring injuries sidelined Crooks for the team's first three games of the 2007 season. He re-injured it on the first play from scrimmage vs. Iowa, leaving the game and sitting out the following week vs. Michigan State. He returned to start three late-season games, catching one pass for a 4-yard touchdown in eight contests.

Positives: (GENERAL)-Has a thick upper body frame that could add another 10 pounds of bulk for a potential move back to middle linebacker or to switch to fullback … Has broad shoulders, good chest thickness, solid thighs and calves.

(OFFENSE)-Better as a lead blocker (as a fullback), as he has the shoulder square technique and leg drive to sustain and widen the rush lanes … Does a nice job of leading up inside and striking the linebacker … Works hard to maintain contact and delivers crunching blocks while keeping his balance … Shows great awareness in picking up the blitz when in the backfield … Collision-type blocker who keeps his feet moving and works hard to occupy the defenders in pass protection … Has the foot agility and kick slide to mirror defenders when retreating to defeat the edge rush.

(DEFENSE)- Smart, aggressive and competitive … Has the hip strike and explosion off the snap to gain advantage on his initial step … Comes off his blocks quickly, using powerful hand swipes to separate … Shows good knee bend at the point of attack along with the foot quickness and lateral agility to chase with effectiveness in tight quarters … Has a steady motor in backside and downfield pursuit … Makes a strong second effort to redirect when his initial move does not work … Has the intangibles you can not measure - heart, desire and total effort … Standout wedge buster who is truly an amazing character to watch on special teams.

Negatives: (GENERAL)-Needs some more upper body muscle definition (firm, but not defined) … Has had a rash of injuries that lead to durability concerns.

(OFFENSE)-Still learning blocking techniques in pass protection when playing on the edge and is slower getting out of his stance and into position to take on the defender when blocking in-line as a tight end (much better from the motion or fullback position) … Does not have the speed to make the initial tackler miss or the juking moves to elude after the catch … Must learn to use his hand punch better to get a clean release off the press … Lacks the upper body flexibility, reach and extension to get to the ball at its high point … More of a body catcher, as he does not extend well when trying to catch outside his frame … Not as alert to twists and games blocking at tight end and struggles to adjust to movement … Good cut blocker, but needs to do a better job with his anchor in order to position and turn the edge rushers away.

(DEFENSE)-Stiff with his change of direction and is slow to recover when the receiver gets by him in short-area pass coverage … Shows an inconsistent use of hands, generating a surge with a forceful hand punch on one play and then letting blockers get into his chest on another … Has to show more balance when flashing to the backside, as he tends to over-run the play, thus preventing him from closing on the quarterback.

Compares To: BOOMER GRIGSBY-Miami … Like Grigsby, Crooks is a converted middle linebacker who might be a better fit as a fullback or back on defense rather than be considered a potential pro tight end. He has good toughness and upper body power, but struggles blocking on the perimeter and has some durability issues. Still, as a camp player, he is worth a look, as his versatility could unearth a player that can play a variety of roles, thus saving some roster space.

2004: Suffered a left knee medial collateral sprain in August camp, but did not miss any game action.

2006: Underwent surgery during the summer to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder.

2007: Underwent left knee arthroscopic surgery after the Capital One Bowl (1/01) to repair a medial collateral ligament strain … Suffered a severe hamstring pull/slight tear in August camp, sitting out the first three games of the season vs. Washington State (9/01), Nevada-Las Vegas (9/08) and The Citadel (9/15) … Returned vs. Iowa (9/22), but re-injured the hamstring on the first play from scrimmage, sitting out the rest of the game and the following week vs. Michigan State (9/29) … The hamstring injury would also force him to miss the Northern Illinois clash (10/20).

Campus: 4.76 in the 40-yard dash … 365-pound bench press … Bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times … 32-inch vertical jump … 31-inch arm length … 9 ¾-inch hands … Right-handed … 29/34 Wonderlic score.

Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Wausau (Wisc.) East High School, playing football for head coach Jack Synold …

Prep Star All-American selection … Captured first-team All-State honors … .Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's state Player of the Year as a senior and ranked among the top 60 players in the Midwest by Super Prep … Rated among the top five players in Wisconsin by Rivals.com … As a senior, Crooks made 122 tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered three fumbles as a linebacker … Also rushed for 309 yards and seven touchdowns as a fullback … Added 74 tackles and a fumble recovery as a junior … Earned nine letters, three each in football, basketball and track, as he captained the basketball team twice and the football squad once … State qualifier in the shot put as a junior and senior, and a National Honor Society member.

Communication Arts major … Son of Laurie and Mike Crooks … Born 1/01/86 … Resides in Wausau, Wisconsin.