ADM senior running back Blake Crannell has worked hard to return to top shape after tearing his ACL in the football team’s 28-24 win over Norwalk Oct. 17, 2014.

That serious injury cost Crannell the final regular season contest and ADM’s season-ending playoff lost to Carroll. Now fully recovered, all that remains between Crannell and cementing himself ADM’s starting running back for the second straight season is preseason camp, which begins on Monday.

All signs point to Crannell getting the nod as starter, a tremendous potential accomplishment that was likely one of the furthest things from the multi-sport athlete’s mind when he first suffered the injury.

It’s been a long road back, which forced Crannell to think back to some of the more monumental moments in his recovery, like the first time he ran post-surgery.

“The first time I ran, it was really weird. It felt like I was limping when I was running, but they said I was just running normal, but it felt weird. I wasn’t in the worst shape, but I wasn’t in the greatest shape. I still had to work into that and I’m still a little bit out of shape; I’ve just got to keep building that up.”

Veteran ADM head coach Mike Whisner has been one of several coaches in the front row monitoring Crannell’s recovery, having coached Crannell in voluntary 7-on-7 camp workouts as well as at a fully-padded camp at Centeral College in Pella earlier this summer.

Count Whisner as one that believes Crannell will meet, if not exceed, his production from a year ago thanks to dedication in returning to the field at full strength.

“He looks like Blake – physically he hasn’t changed a whole lot,” Whisner said. “I think he’s a little bit stronger, but as far as running as the type of thing, he’s moving fine. He’ll be ready.”