Hope College football player Kirby Crook has been chosen the 2014 NCAA Division III recipient in Michigan of the Morley Fraser Award given to a collegiate football player who demonstrates academic achievement, football ability and leadership.
The senior defensive back from Beech Grove, Indiana (Beech Grove HS), will be honored on Wednesday, Dec. 17, during a National Football Foundation and Detroit Free Press banquet in Dearborn.
The Morley Fraser Award is named in honor of the late Morley Fraser, who was a longtime football coach at Albion and an advocate for the MIAA.
The award is presented annually by the Awards Committee of the Michigan Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Crook is Hope's second consecutive winner. He follows quarterback Michael Atwell (2013).
Earlier this month, Crook was selected as one of 25 members of the Division III Capital One Academic All-America First Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Crook completed his degree in management earlier this month. He had a 3.96 GPA coming into the fall semester.
Crook led the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association with seven interceptions during the 2014 season. He tied for 10th in NCAA Division III.
Crook tied for second-most, single-season interceptions all-time at Hope with Randy Ames (1996) and Kelly Clark (1991).
Crook was picked an All-MIAA First Team Defensive Back this season by the league's coaches. He finished sixth on the Flying Dutchmen with 49 tackles.
Crook's 16 career interceptions also are tied for second all-time at Hope with Troy Blasius (2004-07).