27 December 2006

Spotlight on DE Anthony Spencer

DE Anthony Spencer, 6-3 261, Purdue

Purdue football team's Most Valuable Player for the 2006 season, Spencer has been invited to the Senior Bowl and should get a long look by NFL scouts. Spencer will try out as and End and as an Outside Linebacker in the Senior Bowl practices. Spencer leads the nation with 26.5 tackles for loss, while his average of 2.04 per game ranks third. He ranks second in the Big Ten and 15th nationally with an average of 0.81 sacks per game. Spencer leads the Big Ten with five forced fumbles, and his average of 0.38 per game ranks fifth nationally. He is 15th in the Big Ten with an average of 6.6 tackles per game - the most by a defensive lineman. With his 26.5 tackles for loss, Spencer ranks second on the Purdue season list and fifth on the Big Ten season list. The school record is 28.0 by Jeff Zgonina in 1992, the conference mark is 31.0 by Tom Burke of Wisconsin in 1998 and the NCAA standard is 32.0 by Jason Babin of Western Michigan in 2003. Spencer is seventh on the school season sacks list with 10.5. He ranks fifth on the school career sacks list with 21.0 and seventh with 44.0 tackles for loss. Spencer has 11 forced fumbles for his career, one short of the school record held by James Looney (1977-80).

Spencer is a very versatile prospect, quick off the ball and a terror as a pass rusher. A fast rising prospect, with a good Senior Bowl and NFL combine, he could easily slide into the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, Anthony Spencer will become the nect dwight freeney, he does not play at quite the same speed as freeney, and I dont think he will ever be as good as dwight, but I beleive he will be a sack machine in the NFL. I also beleive he is best suited for the 4-3 and by standing him up in the 3-4 you would be missing out on what is his best strength.