Looks are not always what they may seem. 

While this is an overused cliché, the message still holds true in many regards

Take for example someone out of Tulsa, Oklahoma: Kaleb Crawley, who says he is 6 feet 7 and 351 pounds.

Crawley may appear to be a rough, tough football player. His appearance belies someone who is someone who is referred to as a “teddy bear” for his softer side and who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism which affects one’s ability to effectively socialize and communicate.  

The son of two pastors who wanted to start their own church in Phoenix, Crawley moved from Oklahoma to Arizona in 2013.

The transition wasn’t easy for Crawley, who found himself switching schools each year.  The only constant for him through this time was his family and football.   

Crawley is the defensive captain of the Camelback Spartans (in his second year as a part of the team but his first as a CHS student) and has been a force to be reckoned with for all opposing offensive lines. 

What’s even more impressive is that Crawley is only a sophomore and is, as his line coach Fenel Francois describes, a monster on the line. 

“He doesn’t know his own strength,” Francois said. “He’s 14 years old, 6 -7, I say 380 pounds, he may say something lighter. But I would know I had to move him, and he’s a boulder.” 

While people may marvel at Crawley’s physical appearance, Crawley has other sides that many people may not see. 

The player has a soft, compassionate and vulnerable side that is not often seen past his rough exterior. 

Issues stemming from his autism that Cawley faced such as understanding teammates’ decisions and antics, and at times isolating himself have been cut down as coach Joseph Brissette said he has seen tremendous growth in Crawley.

“He is a vocal leader for our team,” Brissette said. “He wants to tell kids how to do things the right way, although he struggles at times (which may be caused by his Asperger’s). He’s learning to deal with it, and he is getting better with it, and I can’t wait to see how he does over the next few years.”

Coming out of Tulsa Crawley had been more interested in playing basketball than anything, but in an attempt to get stronger for basketball Crawley decided he should play football.   

Crawley said he went through difficult times where he even considered quitting football because of its effect on his self-image and his mood. 

Fortunately for Camelback, Crawley’s parents wouldn’t let their son quit and encouraged him to never give up. 

“As a matter of fact, my parents impact me so much that every weekend I push a car,” Crawley said.  “I push a car just so I can remember to stay down low and push as hard as I can.”

In a family where attending and graduating from college is rare, the ability to make it to a major college and be able to support myself with a scholarship or a free ride is always in the back of Crawley’s mind when he plays. 

Crawley’s ultimate goal in life is to start a burger restaurant.  He wants a place in his community where people can get good homestyle food.

For Crawley food is the most comforting thing of all so he wants to be there so anyone who is feeling down can just “come over to my place and have a burger.”

Along with food Crawley can turn to his teammates in times of need.

Crawley described a brotherhood through football, which helps him through his anxiety, depression and any other issues that may try to bring him down. 

“You don’t have friends on this team,” Crawley said. “You have families and brothers.”

As a first-time starter on varsity Crawley is thriving not just in football but as a person and as an everyday high school student.

He is attending his first year at Camelback High School and he is already more confident in himself as he finds himself among friends on the field who remain loyal off the grass.

As far as football is concerned Crawley proudly said his nickname that his teammates have coined for him. 

“My favorite superhero is the Punisher, so my coaches my dad and my teammates call me ‘The Punisher,’” Crawley said.

Crawley said he has seen football produce so many new lanes and life opportunities for himself even with his personal issues. 

“I’m not going to try and say some movie quote, but to anyone out there struggling, days, you will want to quit,” he said. “But if you quit, that’s just your Asperger’s winning.  You just showing that you can be like them is not enough. You showing that you have to be different is what counts.”