Brownwood’s own Matt McCrane recently completed a successful UFL campaign and received a tryout from the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
Playing in his second season for the D.C. Defenders, McCrane converted 80 percent of his attempts overall, including 5 of 7 from beyond 50 yards with a pair of successful 58-yarders.
McCrane’s tryout with the Commanders took place Tuesday.
“I had a solid workout with the Commanders and excelled in the kickoff/directional portion of workout which is my specialty that will hopefully help with the new NFL kickoff rules,” McCrane said. “UFL players are restricted from signing with NFL teams prior to the end of the season after the UFL Championship game this Sunday, June 16th. I’m also getting interest from more NFL teams which is encouraging.”
McCrane has previously spent time on either the active roster or practice squad of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, then-Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. In 2018, McCrane appeared in a total of five games, converting 8 of 12 field goal attempts – including a 29-yard game-winner in a 45-42 Raiders’ overtime victory over the Browns on Sept. 30, 2018 – and all five on his extra point tries.
A 2013 graduate of Brownwood High School, McCrane holds a share of the school record for longest field goal at 52 yards and connected on 7 of 12 field goal attempts during his senior campaign under head coach Bob Shipley.
McCrane went on to attend Kansas State University where in 2017 he was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and first-team All Big 12 – his third year as an all-conference selection. McCrane finished his KSU career as the all-time leader in field goals, with 57; field goal percentage, with an 86.4% success rate; and extra-point percentage, at 99.3%. His 304 points scored in his career ranks third in K-State history.