STATESBORO – The road to college football began with just perseverance, no opportunities or scholarships. As a true walk-on, defensive back Chris Crouch worked tirelessly to earn his spot on the field – proving that perseverance can turn a dream into a Division I reality.
 
"After I graduated high school, I'd had a good senior year, so I started reaching out to coaches but didn't find anything," Crouch said. "I was looking for a place where I could play at the level I knew I was capable of. I heard from some Division II, Division III and NAIA schools, but I still wasn't sure where to go or what to do. Eventually, I decided to go to the closest NAIA school that wanted me, play a full season, get some film, and then figure things out from there. It was either that or not play at all."
 
After spending a full season at Warner, he started drawing interest from Florida Atlantic University's football program. He transferred there hoping for a chance to prove himself and waited through the summer for the opportunity he had been promised – one that never came.
 
"They told me, 'We have a spot for you. If you come here, you won't be on scholarship; you'll be a walk-on. You just have to be here in the spring,'" Crouch said. "After I transferred and the spring semester ended, he said, 'We're still full, but just wait till summer.' They were still full. I realized I wasn't going to get an opportunity, so I started looking at other places."
 
One unexpected connection set Crouch on a seven-hour journey north to what would become his new home.
 
"My mom's high school teacher is (director of GS athletic communications) Bryan Johnston's dad, who was a football coach," Crouch said. "She reached out to him, and he sent my tape out to a bunch of schools – places like William & Mary, Wake Forest – but Georgia Southern never came up. Then he got me in touch with Andrew Bevill, who got me here in the summer of 2022. Even then, I still wasn't recruited."
 
Receiving encouragement from the coaching staff, he went through the Edwin Jackson Memorial Walk-on Tryouts, so they could further assess his skill set.
 
"I've had to earn everything I've ever gotten," Crouch said. "When I got here, they told me, 'We're full,' so I figured I was done with football. But then they mentioned walk-on tryouts and said I could try out the next semester. I did, and I made the team that spring. It's been up from there ever since."
 
What stands out most about his time at Georgia Southern isn't just the football – it is the leadership behind it that comes directly from head coach Clay Helton.
 
"He's definitely the best coach I've ever had," Crouch said. "He's really understanding and knows how to run a team. At my last school, there were times when things felt shaky — we didn't even know who our coach was. But here, he's brought structure and confidence. No matter what, we're going to fight every year and never give up. I'm grateful to have had him every year I've been here, that's for sure."
 
After years of finding ways to make it all work, Crouch's persistence has finally paid off in more ways than one.
 
"For two years, I was paying for school myself, so I worked during the summers to make some money," Crouch said. "I've been really thankful for my parents, especially my mom, who helped me. Now that my last year is paid for, it feels really rewarding. I've truly worked my way up from the bottom to get where I am now. Finding ways to make money and cover housing was tough, but looking back, it was all worth it."
 
For him, being chosen to wear the No. 0 against USC was a recognition of how far he had come.
 
"It was completely unexpected," Crouch said. "To come from where I came from and then be chosen to wear No. 0 – especially for such a big game at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum – it was surreal. I was super grateful. It was a special moment, seeing all the great players who've worn that number before me and realizing it was finally my turn."
 
No matter where football had taken him, his family's steady support was the force that kept him grounded throughout his journey.
 
"I'm super grateful to be able to do what I wanted coming out of high school and not worrying because my parents pushed me to do what I wanted, and they'd support me in whatever I do," Crouch said. "When it came to looking for other schools, my mom didn't care where I went as long as I kept playing. My mom comes to every game – home and away."
 
Reflecting on his journey from walk-on to contributor, he offers encouragement to athletes chasing the same dream he once had.
 
"Never give up," Crouch said. "Whatever you do, keep pushing. If you want something, go after it. I've faced a lot of obstacles and injuries that set me back, but in those tough moments, you just have to keep going to become who you want to be."
 
Despite the ups and downs of the season, Crouch remains confident in what the Eagles can still accomplish, refusing to quit until the final whistle.
 
"Stick with us," he said. "We're going to finish the season strong, no matter what. We're giving our all every game – it doesn't matter how the last few go. Nobody's giving up. We could win out, who knows? We've got so much potential; it's just about playing to our standard."
 
Game Nine will be played at App State on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tune in on ESPN2 or the Georgia Southern Sports Network.