During Media Day activities Thursday, the Demon offensive line took the opportunity to pose with one of the greatest of their kind - not only at NSU, but in college football history.
That smiling fella in the middle on a knee is retired 12-year NFL veteran Marcus Spears, a two-time All-America offensive tackle for Northwestern in 1992-93.
What makes him special in college football history? Marcus Spears and Jerry Rice are the only two FCS (then Division I-AA) players ever to be elected to the Football Writers Association of America All-America team. Rice made it in his senior year (1986) at Mississippi Valley State. Spears joined players from Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Nebraska and Georgia, among others, on the 1993 FWAA squad.
Being one of the five offensive linemen selected also made him a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy given to the nation's top lineman. One of the top 10 linemen, offense or defense, in college football -- that's quite impressive. He was the first, and is the only, FCS player ever considered for that award.
Spears has spent the last two days with the Demons, speaking to the newcomers Thursday morning and to the full squad Friday afternoon in coach Peveto's "Issues" series.
He reprised what he used to do at the request of the NFL. Late in his career, Spears was invited by the league to be one of the speakers at the annual NFL Rookie Symposium held in San Diego, designed to help new NFL players adjust to life in the big leagues.
Spears will be nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame next spring.
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