Keenan Crans’ football playing days aren’t over.

After overcoming a knee injury, the former Sedona Red Rock High School quarterback has signed to play football at the College of Mount St. Joseph, a private Catholic college in Cincinnati, that competes in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference of the NCAA Division III.

“It’s unreal. It’s been a dream for me,” Crans said. “I never imagined playing college football until my junior year.”

As a four-year varsity starter, Crans was named First Team All-Division and All-Section linebacker. He also was named Section Player of the Year and First Team All-Section Quarterback and led the Scorpions to their first winning season since 2003 and first state playoff appearance since 2005.

However, at MSJ, he will be playing a free safety. Last season he recorded 45 solo tackles and 27 assisted tackles with seven pass break-ups and five interceptions.

“We’re about as excited as we can get to have Keenan join us next year,” MSJ Head Football Coach Rod Huber said. “He is a tremendous athlete and an even better young man. With Keenan playing quarterback in high school we think that will give him a great perspective on the game when he transitions to playing safety full time for us.”

The MSJ football program contacted Crans late in his junior year after seeing his recruiting profile on the National Collegiate Scouting Association Athletic Recruiting website. Letters and emails were exchanged, but Crans didn’t hear from the Lions till a while after.

For the full story, please see the Friday, June 28, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.