Channing Crowder

Randolph Channing Crowder Jr. (born December 2, 1983) is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 2000s.

He played college football for Florida, and was recognized as an All-American.

As a senior, he recorded 114 tackles in 2001 with 7.5 sacks sacks while also rushing for over 800 yards.

He was named one of the top four linebackers in the state of Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He was team MVP in 2001.

He was an original member of Florida's 2002 signing class, but delayed his enrollment until January 2003 in order to complete rehabilitation of his knee.

Crowder accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Ron Zook's Florida Gators football team in 2003 and 2004.

He joined the Gators and practiced with the team prior to the 2003 Outback Bowl.

As a freshman in 2003, Crowder played in 11 games with nine starts.

Those nine starts were the most by a freshman linebacker in school history.

He would end up leading the nation in tackles by a freshman during the season.

He ranked first among linebackers, first among Florida's true freshmen and tied for ninth on the team with 816 plays despite missing two games.

He became the first true freshman of 2003 to start for the Gators and was the first true freshman linebacker to start since Travis Harris started four games in 2000.

Crowder underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on October 1 prior to the Mississippi game, and missed the game against the Rebels.

He returned against eventual national champion LSU 10 days after surgery to lead the linebacking unit with seven tackles.

On the year, Crowder led the linebackers with 106 tackles (avg. 9.6 per game) – the second-highest total on the team.

He also had five tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.

He led the defense with 12 tackles and one pass deflection against Arkansas, and led the defense against Vanderbilt with a then career-high 15 tackles.

Crowder caused Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen to throw a game-turning interception, that set up a touchdown and gave Florida the win.

As a team captain in 2004, he finished third on team with 73 tackles, earned the team's outstanding linebacker award.

Crowder was the Gators' leader in tackles six games, and was third on squad with 8.5 tackles for loss.

He intercepted his first career pass against Arkansas when he picked off a Matt Jones pass and returned it 22 yards in a 45–30 win.

Crowder recorded a career-high two quarterback sacks against LSU's JaMarcus Russell.

He notched an SEC and career-best 18 tackles and forced the second fumble of his career against Mississippi State.

On the year, he started seven of nine games before a mid-foot sprain in the first quarter of the Georgia game and missed almost all of the next three contest.

He recovered his third career fumble and notched three tackles in the Peach Bowl against Miami.

Following his second college season, Crowder was recognized as a first-team All-SEC selection and an ESPN All-American.

Crowder was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and played his entire professional career for the Dolphins.

He currently co-hosts Hochman & Crowder, weekdays from 2–6PM simulcast on 790 The Ticket and 560 WQAM.

He also co-hosts The Pivot, alongside Fred Taylor and Ryan Clark.

He is currently a panelist on the weekly highlight show Inside the NFL a role he has held since the show first moved to The CW in 2023

Crowder was born in State College, Pennsylvania, the son of All-American defensive lineman Randy Crowder and Pauline Pope-Crowder.

He was a highly regarded linebacker for North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia who garnered prep All-America recognition.

He was named to SuperPrep's All-America Team and that publication ranked him among the nation's top 30 linebackers.

He collected All-America honors from PrepStar and that publication ranked him among the Southeast's top 10 linebackers.

He garnered All-America honors from Rivals.com and that group ranked him among the nation's top 15 outside linebackers.

Crowder was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round (70th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft.

The pick used to select him was previously acquired from the Chicago Bears in the Marty Booker-Adewale Ogunleye trade from the year before.

Then-head coach Nick Saban was familiar with Crowder, having coached in the SEC at LSU before coming to Miami.

Crowder signed a four-year contract with the team in July and went on to start 13 of the 16 games in which he played during his rookie season.