Former Rutgers wide receiver Aron Cruickshank is making headlines for his play in the European League of Football
. He has been a problem for opposing defenses, with lots of yardage and crucial touchdowns every week. His team, the Madrid Bravos, has a 7-3 record and is in a great spot for the playoffs, with former NFL quarterback Reed Sinnett running the offense and leading the league in passing yards.Cruickshank started his college career with the Wisconsin Badgers, with one of his biggest highlights
being a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown in the Rose Bowl against Oregon in 2019. He then transferred to Rutgers, starting seven of the nine games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season at wide receiver. Cruickshank was named the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten after returning two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaging 26.8 yards per return.
During his final two seasons, Cruickshank continued to demonstrate his versatility, impacting the game as a receiver, rusher, and return specialist. Aron led the Scarlet Knights with 913 all-purpose yards in his senior season in 2022. Cruickshank ended his collegiate career with over 4,000 all-purpose yards and many honors for his play as a wideout and on special teams.
After college, he signed a UDFA deal with the Chicago Bears before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. Despite not seeing the field for either team, his training with both the Bears and Steelers sets him apart from many players in the European League of Football (ELF) and has helped him achieve the degree of success he has.
Cruickshank leads the ELF in receiving yards with 1,456 yards on the season, breaking the single-season receiving touchdown record with 18 touchdowns and two games left to spare. He is also 124 yards away from surpassing Markell Castle’s single-season receiving yards record of 1,580 yards.
Finally, Cruickshank has a chance to break the single-season receptions record. With 99 receptions on the season, Aron needs 17 receptions in the next two games to pass Kyle Sweet’s record of 115 receptions, which Sweet set in 2022 with the Barcelona Dragons.
Although Cruickshank never saw action in the NFL, his game-breaking ability is on full display overseas. Scarlet Knights and Badgers fans remember him as a Swiss-Army Knife, capable of changing the game by returning kickoffs and punts, being used creatively in the run game, and as a big-play receiver. The Madrid Bravos and their opponents are seeing firsthand just how dangerous Cruickshank can be under the right circumstances.
Here is a video of every receiving touchdown by Aron Cruickshank this season en route to setting the single-season record!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj5_ytTw2f4&ab_channel=EuropeanLeagueofFootball
