OVERVIEW
Marcus is a multi-talented and versatile defensive lineman for the Tigers. He is a player with tremendous power and an enormous wingspan who often draws a great deal attention from the offensive line. He is very athletic for a player of his size and was so highly regarded for his skills, the coaches used him on both sides of the ball (defensive end and tight end) as a freshman in 2001.

Spears was rated the best tight end prospect in the country by every recruiting service during his senior year at Southern Lab (La.) High School. He caught 28 passes for 435 yards andf three touchdowns, rushed for 245 yards and six scores and recorded 11.5 sacks with 22 stops for losses of 151 yards in his final prep season.

The third-best overall prospect by Super Prep was a consensus All-American (Parade, ESPN, Fox Sports, Super Prep, Prep Star, The Sporting News, USA Today) and also a member of the Baton Rouge Advocate's Super Dozen, the Shreveport Times Top 20 and the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Top 16 Blue Chip list for the state of Louisiana. Spears was named first-team Class 1A All-State on both offense and defense, the first player to be honored on both sides of the ball in Louisiana in any class since 1991. He was also considered one of the nation's top basketball prospects.

Heavily recruited in both football and basketball, Spears decided to stay at home and enrolled at Louisiana State. As a freshman at LSU, he was a reserve tight end on the gridiron and also performed on the Tigers' basketball team. He saw action later that year on defense, making eight tackles (6 solos) with a sack. Marcus took over left defensive end duties in 2002, collecting 46 tackles (31 solos) with three sacks, sixteen quarterback pressures and two interceptions as a sophomore, despite suffering an ankle sprain in the sevent game of the season vs. South Carolina (would sit out vs. Auburn and the injury would hamper him throughout the second half of the season).

In 2003, he earned All-Southeastern Conference honors, registering 49 tackles (32 solos) with six sacks, 13 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 23 pressures, an interception (that sealed the Sugar Bowl vs.Oklahoma) and six pass deflections. In 2004, Marcus appeared to be two different players. Earlier in the year, Marcus had a total of three tackles in a three-game span vs. Arkansas State, Auburn and Mississippi State. With the team struggling at the time, they needed Marcus to step up or 2004 would have been a lost season. In the final five regular season games, he had at least two tackles for losses in each of those contests (Troy State, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Mississippi, Alabama), to move up to fifth on the school's career-record list with 19 sacks under his belt.

He closed out his senior campaign with 49 tackles (32 solos), nine sacks, 17 stops for losses, six pressures, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception and two pass deflections. Through 48 games as a Tiger, he started 38 times. Spears closed out his career with 152 tackles (101 solos), 19 sacks for minus 131 yards, 34.5 stops for losses of 180 yards, 47 quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles, four interceptions, ten pass deflections and a blocked kick. Only Jarvis Green 920, 1998-2001), Gabe Northern (21, 1992-95), Ron Sancho (23, 1985-88) and Rydell Malancon (25, 1980-83) had more sacks in a career at Louisiana State. His 34.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage rank seventh on LSU's all-time record list.

CAREER NOTES
2004 SEASON
All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, Walter Camp Foundation and American Football Coaches Association, adding second-team honors from Sports Illustrated...Semi-finalist for the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player), Lott Trophy (courage) and Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman)...Added All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors...Named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week vs. Alabama and Arkansas...The defensive team captain extended his string of consecutive starts to 31 games, lining up at left defensive end...Recorded 49 tackles (32 solos) as he ranked second in the SEC with nine sacks for minus 72 yards and 17 stops for losses of 96 yards...His nine sacks are topped only by Ryan Melanson (10 in 1981), Gabe Northern (11 in 1994) and Oliver Lawrence (12 in 1989) on the school's season-record list...Credited with six quarterback pressures and two pass deflections...Recovered a fumble and caused two others...Also returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown.

2004 GAME ANALYSIS
Note...Time listed inside brackets (x:xx) indicates start of the offensive drive. Oregon State...Facing offensive tackle Doug Nienhuis, Marcus totaled five tackles with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection.

Auburn...Lining up against one of the premier offensive tackles in the game, Marcus McNeill, Spears was held to two tackles...Notable Plays-Second Quarter-Teamed with cornerback Corey Webster to tackle Carnell Williams after the tailback raced 22 yards on a first-&-15 rushing attempt from the AU 33 (4:21).
Georgia...Produced four tackles with a pass deflection and 1.5 stops for losses of 7 yards. Florida...Held to two tackles and a pass deflection by offensive tackle Jon Colon. Troy State...Put on a great performance, registering 9 tackles (8 solos) with two sacks for minus 22 yards, 5.5 stops for losses of 34 yards and a pass deflection.
Vanderbilt...Battled offensive tackle Justin Geisinger, as Marcus totaled 4 tackles (3 solos) with a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage and a pressure.
Alabama...Collected 8 tackles (5 solos) with two sacks for minus 12 yards...Notable Plays-Third Quarter-Teamed with middle linebacker Lionel Turner to stop Kenneth Darby for a 2-yard loss on a second-&-4 running play from the LSU 38 (15:00) and two plays later, tackled QB Spencer Pennington for no gain on a third-&-9 draw play from the LSU 43, forcing the Tide to punt.
Mississippi...Followed with four tackles, 1.5 sacks for minus 6 yards, a forced fumble and a pressure.
Arkansas...Continued his reign of terror during the second half of the 2004 season, coming up with 9 tackles (8 solos), two sacks for losses of 27 yards and a pass break-up while lining up against offensive tackle Robert Felton.

2003 SEASON
Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference first-team choice...Started every game at left defensive end...Recorded 49 tackles (32 solos) with six sacks for minus 50 yards, 13 stops for losses of 72 yards and 23 quarterback pressures...Intercepted a pass and batted away six others...Also blocked a kick.

2003 GAME ANALYSIS
Arizona...Made three solo tackles with three stops behind the line of scrimmage, including a 3-yard sack of QB Ryan O'Hara.
Georgia...Caused and recovered a fumble while posting three hits.
Florida...Added seven tackles and sacked QB Chris Leak for a 7-yard loss, adding four pressures.
South Carolina...Totaled three pressures with 6 tackles (4 solos) and stopped Dondrial Pickens for an 8-yard loss on a QB draw.
Auburn...Added 4 tackles (3 solos) with two pressures and an 8-yard sack of QB Jason Campbell.
Louisiana Tech...Stopped tailback Kevin Payne twice behind the line of scrimmage and came up with 5 tackles (4 solos) and two pressures.
Alabama...Followed with four tackles, two pressures and a stop for a 4-yard loss.
Arkansas...Totaled four tackles as he sacked QB Matt Jones for an 18-yard loss, causing a fumble on that play.
Georgia (SEC Championship)...Sacked QB David Greene for an 11-yard loss and pressured the passer three times while also making three tackles.
Oklahoma (Sugar Bowl)...Made a pair of solo tackles, sacked QB Jason White for a 3-yard loss and picked off a White pass in the third quarter, returning the ball 20 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in a 21-14 victory.

2002 SEASON
Started twelve games at left defensive end...Finished with 46 tackles (31 solos), three sacks for minus 8 yards and 3.5 stops for losses of 11 yards...Credited with 16 quarterback pressures...Intercepted two passes and deflected two others.

2002 GAME ANALYSIS
Virginia Tech...Opened the season with 5 tackles (4 solos) and 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, including a 3-yard sack of QB Bryan Randall.
The Citadel...Stopped tailback Ernie Mills behind the line of scrimmage and produced 6 tackles (3 solos).
Miami (Oh.)...Sacked QB Ben Roethlisberger and made 4 hits (3 solos).
Mississippi State...Followed with a 6-tackle performance.
Florida...Sacked QB Rex Grossman for a 5-yard loss, intercepted a Grossman pass for an 18-yard return and made three tackles.
South Carolina...Had a pair of solo tackles before leaving the game with a left high ankle sprain. Arkansas...Registered 7 tackles (4 solos).
Texas (Cotton Bowl)...Delivered two solo tackles and picked off a Chris Simms pass, returning it 11 yards.

2001 SEASON
Freshman All-SEC team pick by the Knoxville News-Sentinel as a tight end...Began his LSU career as a tight end, but also saw action at fullback before shifting to defensive end beginning with the sixth game of the season vs. Mississippi State...Caught two passes for 20 yards (10.0 avg) and recorded 8 tackles (6 solos) with a 1-yard sack and two pressures.

2001 GAME ANALYSIS
Kentucky...His first career catch was good for a 1-yard gain.
Mississippi State...Followed with a 19-yard reception.

Middle Tennessee...Registered a season-high 3 tackles (2 solos) and a pressure.
Auburn...Sacked QB Jason Campbell for a 1-yard loss.

CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
5.03 in the 40-yard dash...405-pound bench press...530-pound squat...308-pound power clean...34-inch vertical jump...9'1� broad jump...33 3/8-inch arm length...10 3/8-inch hands...Right-handed...15/34 Wonderlic score.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Southern University (Baton Rouge, La.) Lab High School, playing football for coach Eric Randall...Rated the tight end prospect and the third-best overall prospect in the country by Super Prep...Consensus All-American choice (Parade, ESPN, Fox Sports, Super Prep, Prep Star, The Sporting News, USA Today)...Also a member of the Baton Rouge Advocate's Super Dozen, the Shreveport Times Top 20 and the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Top 16 Blue Chip list for the state of Louisiana...First-Team Class 1A All-State pick on both offense and defense, the first player to be honored on both sides of the ball in Louisiana in any class since 1991...Caught 28 passes for 435 yards and three touch-downs and added 245 yards rushing and six scores as a senior...On defense, he registered 22 tackles for 151 yards in losses to go with 11.5 sacks, and four fumble recoveries...Was considered one of the nation's top basketball prospects as well.

PERSONAL
Communication Studies major...Active in community service projects in the Baton Rouge area...Sister, Deidre, played basketball for LSU in the 1990's...Son of Irma and Ebray Spears...Born Marcus Raishon Spears on 3/08/83 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.