Adam Spieker

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.

positives

Smart player who can out-finesse an opponent, but will struggle to handle a strong bull rush...Shows good hand quickness on the classic snap, but needs to show better accuracy when doing it for the shotgun...Shows good field smarts and vision, usually making the right blocking calls up front...Lacks sustained speed, but when he fires low off the snap, he is quite effective at widening and sustaining the rush lanes...Knows protections well and works in unison with his guards on double teams...When he works his hands inside the frame, he can get a better push or lock on to the defender...Has a good concept for taking angles in the second level, but lacks the foot speed to be consistent on the move...When he puts his foot in the ground and anchors properly, he can move defensive tackles off the snap...Better gaining advantage vs. a nose guard or one-tech than vs. the three-tech opponents...Flashes some pop coming off the snap, but must generate better explosion...Has an adequate punch, but shows a decent slide and base when he keeps his pads down in pass protection...Needs more strength, but has the ability to wall off and turn oncoming linebackers...Struggles at the point of attack vs. the shade, but if he shoots his hands quickly, he can stop the charge and create separation... Does not have good hand strength, but is good at catching without getting caught.

compares to

MIKE FLYNN-ex-Baltimore...Like Flynn, Spieker is a stationary drive blocker who can widen and sustain the rush lane, but lacks movement skills, hip flexibility and knee bend to be effective on long pulls and traps. He has marginal upper body strength and mass, lacking the punch needed to shock and jolt a defender. He must show more aggression in his play, as he prefers to out-finesse rather than battle his opponent. He gets by more on smarts than talent, and like Flynn, needs to be covered by his guards or seven-techs and bull rushers will have a field day running over him.

negatives

Has an adequate build that needs more upper body mass and muscle tone... Too fleshy in his midsection, and has narrow hips...Lacks the speed needed to get out on traps and pulls and shows limited change of direction agility...Struggles vs. the speedier defensive tackles, especially vs. those with active hands (slow to recoil and rest his own hands)...Limited with his anchor, as he simply gets run over too much and on the ground vs. the bull rush...Needs to get more aggressive with his hands and will sometimes shut down on the play when his man gets by him...Struggles to bend his knees and is strictly a spread offense center, as he is more comfortable in a stationary position than on the move...Struggles with accuracy, whether to the left or right when asked to shotgun snap...Sluggish making angle blocks and is a revolving door vs. a strong three-tech, as he has problems with quickness and defenders have had good success eluding him when he fails to keep his hands inside the frame...Might be a better fit at guard, but until he adds more lower body strength and upper body bulk, he will continue to get bulled over by a strong rush...Lacks power behind his hand punch and does not have the long arms needed to make reach blocks...Has had problems handling the night life on campus and was twice arrested for alcohol-related issues.

2000: Suffered a left knee lateral meniscus tear while playing with the football team during his high school sophomore year. 2002: Tore his left knee lateral meniscus again while competing on the high school basketball team as a senior.

Campus: 5.29 in the 40-yard dash

370-pound bench press

Bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times

623-pound squat

379-pound hang clean

Two pull-ups

23-inch vertical jump

8'3" broad jump

31 1/2-inch arm length

9 1/8-inch hands

Right-handed

36/45 Wonderlic score. Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Webb City (Mo.) High School, playing football for head coach John Roderique

Rated the third-best offensive lineman in the Missouri-Kansas region by MoKan Foot-ball

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)

Rated as the 53rd overall prospect in the Midland region by Super Prep

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

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

Still holds school records in the shot put and discus

National Honor Society member.

General Studies major, with an emphasis in Business

Earned Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors in 2007

Son of Holly and Curt Spieker

Born 12/25/84

Resides in Webb City, Missouri.