Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week: Picayune Baseball and Football’s Morgan Craft

While athletes spend years and years playing a sport they’ve practically never lived without, a thought that often lingers in their heads is how are they going to reach the next level. After many long days and intense challenges later, this Week’s WXXV Student Athlete of the Week has earned the incredible opportunity to continue not just one, but two of his sports at the collegiate level. Introducing you to Picayune baseball and football’s very own, Morgan Craft.

Growing up on a baseball diamond, Picayune’s Morgan Craft doesn’t really remember a time he wasn’t on the dirt or in the batter’s box.Some of his very best memories as a kid was going to the batting cages with his dad.

“I’ve been playing baseball since I was probably four years old,” senior Morgan Craft said. “My dad really got me into it and it’s kind of just been him and me. We’d go to the field when I was little and I kind of just picked it up, and it’s probably been my favorite sport of my entire life.”

Whether he’s playing in a summer ball tournament or proudly representing Picayune on his chest, baseball has always been a constant in his life, and along with the joy and contentment the game brings, another constant to Craft has been his teammates, specifically his senior class. Not only is Craft one season away from living out his dream and playing at the next level with Pearl River Community College, he’s also going to suit-up as a Wildcat with five of his Maroon Tide teammates.

“It feels great to be able to be a part of something like that, a foundation they’ve built up from the ground and it’s a great feeling knowing I feel like I’m good enough to compete at the highest level,” said Craft. “Every senior in this class, I’ve played ball with since I was four, so I think it’s really helped our chemistry and helped us be able to come as far as we have and with all of us going to The River, I mean it’s a dream come true. Not many high school baseball teams get to send five to six people to the same college.”

Winning the NJCAA Division II World Series in 2022, the PRCC baseball program is known for their success, and Craft is no stranger to that type of success. He has started for the Picayune maroon tide football program since his freshman year and was a key member of their back to back State Championship titles.

“It’s probably one of the best experiences of my life,” Craft said with a smile. “Not many people win a state championship in high school, especially being able to win two, and to be able to be a big part of the season that they built, and be loved by the community has been the best feeling over the past few years.”

Although he may not see the most contact as a kicker, the difficulty level and mental toll is definitely there.

“Defensive linemen, they’ll go out there, along with quarterbacks and receivers, they go out there and if they miss a ball, pass, or tackle, they’ll have the next play to make up for it, but for kickers you get once chance and if you miss it you’re off the field until your next opportunity, and you don’t get a lot of those. It’s just a big deal that the community surrounded around me and got behind my back when I was down and they helped me come up and helped me get up quicker than anybody else has,’ said Craft.

That same community will be behind him 100 percent, as he also continues his kicker career on the PRCC Football team.

“It has always been my lifelong dream just to be able to play one sport in college, and being able to go do both sports that I love, I’m just blessed to keep doing this everyday and go do it at the next level,” said Craft.

He may never have an off day during his entire college career, but it’s an opportunity craft has waited for his entire life.