Former Hansen Award winner ready for another NFL shot after injury during rookie season
Sachem alum Dalton Crossan saw action in one NFL preseason game with the Colts last season before going on injury reserve and eventually being waived, but in that one game he was put to the test as a running back, receiver and on special teams, generating production whenever he touched the ball.
While not the rookie season he dreamt of after starring at New Hampshire, Crossan will again have an opportunity to prove his versatility now as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who signed him to a free agent contract this week, according to the team’s website.
In that one preseason game with Indianapolis, Crossan rushed three times for three yeards, caught two passes for 11 yards and returned one kick for 23 yards.
According to the Buccaneers, Crossan becomes the third tailback under contract with the team for 2018 along with Peyton Barber and Jacquizz Rodgers. Doug Martin was waived on Tuesday.
Crossan graduated from Sachem in 2012 after winning the Hansen Award as the top football player in Suffolk County. His 2,186 rushing yards as a senior are a single-season program record at Sachem North. He had more than 5,000 all-purpose yards at New Hampshire as one of the top players in the Colonial Athletic Association during his tenure.
Crossan remains the fifth player from Sachem to sign with an NFL club. John Elliott played for the Giants and Jets. Brian Bravy was on the practice squad of the Falcons. Doug Shanahan made it to the last pre-season game with the Jets before being cut. Chris Manno signed deals with the Chiefs and Panthers.
MORE ON CROSSAN: Click to read an extensive feature written when he signed with the Colts last year about Crossan and how Sachem impacted his life
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro