Devon Crenshaw is a third-year student-athlete who is pursuing a social science major and a football career at U of T. In an interview with The Varsity, he highlighted how his family inspired his love for football at an early age. 

He proudly traces his roots to his grandfather, who broke barriers in the sport. “My grandfather was the first African football player at [St. Francis Xavier University], so I’m… carrying on a legacy.”

Beginnings in football

Crenshaw shares how he has had a deep passion for the game from early on in his childhood, travelling long distances to train with his cousin. He attributes most of his success to his parents. “They’ve supported me through everything and they really put their faith in me when they sent me off to U of T.”

Crenshaw entered the world of sports playing flag football throughout his youth, and then crossed over into basketball until the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the hiatus led him to realize that his true ambition was in football: “[football] had my heart… it was like my real sport.” 

His decision to commit full-time to football in Grade 11 was an easy one. Crenshaw eventually joined Team BC and later achieved the title of all-star member of the provincial team. 

Development and leadership

“[Being on] Team BC was a great experience,” Crenshaw said. It was his first taste of playing Canadian football, as the game is typically played with American rules in BC. 

Playing in the Football Canada Cup prepared him for university-level play with the Blues. “I’m a play-maker and I’m a true competitor.” 

He was signed by the U of T Varsity Blues soon after as a defensive back. His success with the Blues can be seen in his extraordinary performance against McMaster on September 7, 2024, where he led a single-game high of 5.5 tackles. 

Despite his individual accomplishments, Crenshaw also discusses the value he places on his teammates, saying: “Nobody is central to the team’s efforts because we’re all united as one… all 100 players are central to our success.” 

He also emphasizes his goal of stepping up as a leader this season, due to the many players who have graduated and left the Blues. He says his biggest challenge is, “trying to give it [my] all every single day… a lot of the time you get sore, school gets in the way, your mentality is not all there, and it gets a little challenging.” 

However, Crenshaw emphasizes his efforts in keeping the team motivated both on and off the field. In particular, he tries to guide his younger teammates by sharing his past experiences to ensure the success of all players. “I’ll pretty much tell [the younger players] everything that I’ve seen through my own experiences, and I’ll try to tell them what to do based on what [other OUA players do]… I’ll try to put them in the best situation possible for success.”

Keeping strong 

Crenshaw had a strong season last year, recording 17.5 total tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions in six games this past season. 

Crenshaw also expresses the desire to be more dominant on the field to get more wins this season despite various setbacks. Although he injured his pec, resulting in the need for surgery and time away from training, he is ready for the season. “I tore my pec… so I wasn’t able to go to our winter camp… [but] I have a chip on my shoulder and [I’m] ready [to] help the Blues.” He has set a goal to get “a minimum of five interceptions this year.”

Future ambitions

Crenshaw’s journey thus far reflects hard work and steady growth. As he looks ahead, his focus remains on improving his game, supporting his teammates, and staying open to future opportunities — setting an example for those who follow. He hopes to continue playing football beyond university, whether that is in Canada or the United States. “I plan to go further with [football]… [and I’m open to playing] wherever the opportunity lands.”

Crenshaw’s advice for younger athletes is to “Keep on grinding and stay true to yourself… believe in yourself and your capabilities, don’t doubt yourself, and put in the work because it will definitely reward you at one point. You might not know when, but just keep believing in yourself until you get where you want to be.”