Columbia, Mo., is now Pine Bluff North.
Pine Bluff High School senior wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield announced he will sign with the University of Missouri for football in the McFadden Gym on Tuesday, joining fellow senior Austyn Dendy and former Zebra Jordon Harris.
Crutchfield said he took an official visit to Missouri over the weekend, and he felt at home. He also said Mizzou was the first SEC school to offer him.
“I feel like it’s a better fit, for sure,” Crutchfield said. “As I look at they receiving depth chart, they ain’t really have that many receivers. I just know, with me and my mindset, I feel like I can go in and play as a true freshman.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Crutchfield sat down at a table with cards showing Missouri, Arkansas, LSU and Auburn, along with a UAPB hat. The four-star recruit, ranked No. 1 in Arkansas by 247 Sports, looked at and discarded each card one by one, then fooled those in attendance by taking off his hoodie to show a plain shirt.
Finally, after much suspense, he announced he was joining the Tigers and put on a Missouri sweatshirt as his family took off their jackets to show they were also wearing Mizzou gear.
Crutchfield will officially sign with Mizzou on Wednesday, which is the first day of the early signing period.
His announcement was part of a ceremony honoring himself as well as Dendy, who had already announced his commitment to Mizzou. Dendy, a three-star recruit ranked seventh in Arkansas by 247, signed his national letter of intent during the event, which will be filed Wednesday.
Dendy plans to play safety for the Tigers but may also see some time at running back.
Dendy said he has known for a while he wanted to go to Mizzou because of how hard the Tigers recruited him.
“I love the system and the education they giving to us,” Dendy said. “He always say it ain’t a four-year decision, it’s a 40-year decision. I like that about them.”
The two will join Harris, who graduated from Pine Bluff in May, at Mizzou. Harris was a freshman tight end for the Tigers this season.
Crutchfield and Dendy were part of a tremendous turnaround for Pine Bluff football. The Zebras won two games their sophomore year and just missed the playoffs their junior year with a 5-5 record.
This season, the two led Pine Bluff to its first conference championship and state semifinals appearance since 2017, bringing the Zebras back into the mix atop Arkansas high school football.
Coach Micheal Williams, who just finished his second season with the Zebras, said he knew this turnaround was coming because of players like Crutchfield and Dendy.
“Something’s got to move,” Williams said. “With guys like Courtney and Austyn, if you can’t win with these guys, then I’m just being honest, this might not be the job for you. I’m not such a good coach. They just great players.”
Crutchfield had previously committed to Arkansas but chose to decommit during this past season. The Razorbacks were still a factor in his recruitment, and Coach Sam Pittman, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton attended a previous ceremony honoring Crutchfield’s selection to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
“I just felt like I had rushed into my decision,” Crutchfield said. “It wasn’t because they had a bad season this season. I just felt like I rushed into my decision. That’s all.”
Pine Bluff senior Austyn Dendy signs his national letter of intent to play football for Missouri during a Tuesday morning ceremony at PBHS. (Pine Bluff Commercial/Tanner Spearman)
Pine Bluff seniors Austyn Dendy (left) and Courtney Crutchfield (right) are both signing with Missouri for football. (Pine Bluff Commercial/Tanner Spearman)