Massive, athletic and strong, junior center Chris Spencer of Madison, Miss., has decided to pass up his senior year of eligibility in order to make himself available for the April 23-24, 2005, National Football League draft. "This was a tough decision, but one I felt I needed to make after getting the facts from the NFL," Spencer said. "I was projected in the second round and that's high for a center. I've always dreamed of playing on that level and this is an opportunity I didn't want to pass up. "I had a great time at Ole Miss and have never regretted my decision to attend Ole Miss. I'll miss my teammates, but Ole Miss will always be a part of me, and I will be back from time to time." This manimal should be one of, if not the first center taken. I personally feel he has more upside than LSU Center Ben Wilkerson, who most have rated as the number one center. Spencer was named All-SEC by Southeastern Football Saturdays, and earned honorable mention All-SEC honors from The Associated Press. Chris started at center in all 11 games in 2004 and dominated his opposition. He earned “Quarterback Club Trench Player of the Week” honors after helping Ole Miss total 343 yards of offense, including 175 rushing vs. Mississippi State (11/27), he helped Ole Miss total a season-high 283 yards rushing in the 20-3 victory and earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Chris is a great player who understands the whole offensive scheme, really controlling the offensive line by calling the blocking schemes. Last season he helped Ole Miss rank first in the SEC in scoring (34.0 ppg), passing (286.0 ypg), and total offense (433.2 ypg). Spencer played in two bowl games during his career with the Rebels as Ole Miss defeated Nebraska, 27-23, in the 2002 Sanford Independence Bowl and Oklahoma State, 31-28, in the 2004 SBC Cotton Bowl. Coming out of high school, Spencer was considered the top offensive lineman in the entire state of Mississippi. He was a consensus All-American and led his team to a 15-0 record and state championship. He was also the State 5A Super Heavy Weight Power lifting champion as a junior and a senior. Chris holds the state record for combined weight lifted in three lifts (bench, squat, dead lift) with 1,675 pounds. Spencer has played both guard and center and can make the transition seamlessly. Spencer is not getting a lot of press, but his power, athleticism and versatility should enable him to develop into an elite NFL Trench warrior. He has really shown since the close of the 2004 season and his stock is definitely on the rise. He is a surefire seond rounder at this point, and could even sneak into the first round, and maybe--just maybe--wind up being the third offensive lineman selected--just behind Khalif Barnes and ahead of Jamaal Brown.
2008 Draft Review
