COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Starting his run from a dead stop, Crew rookie Shaun Francis darted down the left flank before receiving a pass in midflight. In the blink of an eye, he had gone from zero to Usain Bolt.

A flat-footed Charleston Battery defender had no choice but to foul Francis, leading to a Crew free kick in a U.S. Open Cup match on July 6.

For fans, the play provided a glimpse of the speed and potential that the 23-year-old Jamaican left back possesses. Crew teammates get to see Francis' developing talents every day in practice.

"I think the sky is the limit," said Chad Marshall, the two-time MLS Defender of the Year. "Obviously, he has physical attributes you can't teach. He is strong, he's really good going forward and good with the ball. You can see he has come a long way since the start of the season."

Francis made his Major League Soccer debut on Saturday in the Crew's 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls. An injury substitution, Francis played 33 minutes and nearly set up a goal on a nice cross to the head of Emilio Renteria.

The former small-college standout said he wasn't surprised by the opportunity, the first given to a Crew rookie in a regular-season game since May 2, 2009. What coach Robert Warzycha appreciates about Francis, however, is his patience and attitude.

For a young player blessed with such quickness, Francis is in no hurry for personal glory. He has soccer lessons to learn and college courses to complete.

"Everything in life takes time," said Francis, whose playing time previously had been limited to exhibitions and two Open Cup matches. "When you try to rush things, they are not going to go your way.

"Every day I come out here is motivation for me. Just being out here puts me in a good mood. Soccer takes me to a different place."

It has taken Francis to several places: from his Jamaican club team to NAIA powerhouse Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky to America's top pro soccer league.

Selected with the penultimate pick in the 2010 MLS draft (No.63 overall), the left-footed defender has been among the Crew's most pleasant surprises despite a preseason ankle injury.

"He's a good player, a good person, and he's very coachable," Warzycha said. "He works hard every day, and we can't ask for anything more.

"You didn't see many things happen on his side (while defending). That means he was closing it down. You don't see many crosses or guys getting behind him."

On a veteran club with a lot of depth, Warzycha has been hesitant to insert youngsters, especially with the club trying to stay atop a tight Eastern Conference race.

But with the Crew in the middle of a heavy schedule and the recent struggles of starting left back Gino Padula, 34, Francis might receive more playing time.

"It's not about this moment," he said after Saturday's game. "You never know when your chance is going to come. You always have to be ready."

The former track sprinter chuckles when people remark on his speed and acceleration. He's a big fan of Bolt, a fellow countryman and the world record-holder in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

On Saturday, Francis zipped past New York midfielder Dane Richards before crossing the ball to Renteria on an ambitious run similar to the one in the Open Cup match.

"I don't think I'm that quick," Francis said. "I think I was quicker when I was younger, but everywhere I've played, people have told me I'm quick."

Lindsey Wilson coach Ray Wells, who has a penchant for recruiting Jamaican players, was scouting several of Francis' club teammates when the left back caught his attention.

Wells offered him a scholarship, and last season Francis captained the Blue Raiders to their eighth national championship. The defender registered seven goals and nine assists in 61 career college appearances.

He is one of four Jamaicans to come through the Blue Raiders' pipeline and land on MLS rosters. The Crew is no stranger to recruiting small-school players, having also drafted Steven Lenhart from Azusa (Calif.) Pacific College.

Francis, who's taking online courses in pursuit of a degree in communications, has been working in practice on his consistency and connecting passes to midfielders.

His sunny disposition belies a competitor who wants to make a career out of beating opponents with his skills.

"Soccer is my true love," Francis said. "Education is very important, but if God gives us a talent, we should use it."

Courtesy of Tom Reed of the The Columbys Dispatch. Dispatch reporter Shawn Mitchell contributed to this story.