Adam Spieker

C · Missouri
The unheralded leader of the Tigers' front wall, Spieker's main job of protecting quarterbacks Brad Smith and Chase Daniel in his 50 games as a starter helped the team average 259.28 yards passing per game during his career. The Rimington Trophy finalist (nation's top center) has been a blocking pillar in the middle of the front wall that gave up 77 sacks on 1,893 pass plays during his tenure at Missouri. Even though he hailed from time Webb City High School, Spieker was rated the third-best offensive lineman in the Missouri-Kansas region by MoKan Football. Rivals.com had him as the 26th-best offensive guard prospect in the country, and as the eighth-best prospect in the state of Missouri (all positions). He was rated as the 53rd overall prospect in the Midland region by Super Prep. Spieker earned All-State honors as a defensive lineman each of his last two seasons at Webb City, where he was an All-Area performer for two years on the offensive line. He was rated as the best offensive and defensive lineman (all classes) in 2002 by Danny Heitert of STC Grid Report. A three-sport standout (football, basketball and track), he won the Class 3A state championship in 2003 and took fifth place in the state championships in the shot put in 2002. He still holds school records in the shot put and discus. Spieker spent the 2003 season at Missouri competing on the scout team as a center. He chose the Tigers, despite scholarship offers from Nebraska, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Illinois. In 2004, he earned Freshman All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors from The Sporting News and Freshman All-American second-team recognition from Rivals.com. He started all 11 games for an offense that averaged 372.55 yards per game. Spieker garnered Sophomore All-American honors from College Football News and was an All-Big 12 honorable mention by the league's coaches. He collected 81 knock-downs that year, as the offense improved from 60th in 2004 to 24th in 2005, averaging 429.75 yards per game. A member of the Rimington Tropy watch list, Spieker was named All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention by the Associated Press. He manned the center position through all thirteen games, coming up with 88 knockdowns as the front wall allowed only 19 sacks on 465 pass plays. The team improved to eighth in the nation with an average of 425.62 yards per game in total offense. As a senior, Spieker was a Rimington Trophy finalist, adding All-American third-team and All-Big 12 first-team recognition from the Associated Press. He also received Academic All-Big 12 honors, as he registered 97 knockdowns. The offense generated a school record 6,864 yards, ranking fifth nationally with an average of 490.29 yards per game in total offense.