Building a National Voice in College Football

Brad Crawford, a college football analyst for 247Sports (CBS Sports), began building his path in sports journalism at UNC Pembroke. A native of Hope Mills, North Carolina, Crawford chose UNC Pembroke for its Mass Communication program and the opportunity to stay close to home. He commuted all four years while forming strong connections with faculty and classmates.

At UNC Pembroke, Crawford leaned into hands-on experiences that shaped his future career. He worked with the university's athletics department, contributed to student media and gained early exposure through internships. These opportunities, combined with his lifelong interest in writing and sports, helped solidify journalism as his career path.

Crawford credits UNC Pembroke's learning environment with giving him a distinct advantage. With smaller class sizes and accessible faculty, he found a setting that encouraged both confidence and growth. “I never felt like just a number there,” he said. “You could ask questions, build relationships and really focus on your craft.”

After graduating in 2009, Crawford began his career as a newspaper reporter at The Robesonian, covering high school sports across Robeson County. The experience shaped his approach to storytelling and reinforced the importance of community-centered journalism. “A lot of athletes in small-town communities don't make it to college athletics,” he said. “I always covered it as if it were the NFL.”

In 2014, Crawford made a pivotal move into digital media, joining Saturday Down South as its first national SEC football analyst. He was later recruited by 247Sports (CBS Sports), where he has spent more than a decade building a national presence in college football coverage.

His role has evolved alongside the industry. Early in his career, Crawford focused on high-volume, digital-first writing driven by audience traffic and headline performance. Today, his work spans multiple platforms, with a growing emphasis on television and video. “My career has evolved just like media has,” he said. “If you have a product people connect with and you're consistent, they stay with you.”

Now based in Hope Mills, Crawford works remotely as both a writer and on-camera analyst. “I went from living in Orlando to now living back in Hope Mills, working from home,” he said. “My career has come full circle.”

Crawford's success is grounded in discipline and perspective. In a competitive and constantly evolving industry, he approaches each day with urgency. “I still work every day as if there's someone 20 years younger than me who wants my job,” he said. “That's what keeps me motivated.”

He also credits his wife and three daughters for his drive and commitment to growth, consistency and long-term success. Reflecting on his career, Crawford remains appreciative of the foundation he built at UNC Pembroke. “My mass communication degree from UNCP put me in the same room with graduates from top programs,” he said. “I've built a career at that level and I'm very grateful.”