He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft.

For the season, he recorded 35 tackles, 3 TFLs, one sack, one interception, 14 pressures, five passes deflected and two forced fumbles.

Following the season, he was named third-team Freshman All America by the Sporting News and shared UT's Outstanding Newcomer of the Year award.

He led the team with 20 QB pressures, while recording 50 tackles, nine TFLs, three sacks, an interception and, a forced fumble.

[2] On October 21, 2007, against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Crowder returned a recovered fumble 50 yards for his first and only career touchdown after Ben Roethlisberger was strip sacked by Elvis Dumervil, as Denver would go on to win 31–28.