Marquis Spruill

Marquis Spruill
	Spruill with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014
No. 35
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	May 14, 1991 (age 33); Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:	Hillside (NJ)
College:	Syracuse
NFL draft:	2014 / Round: 5 / Pick: 168
Career history
	Atlanta Falcons (2014); Toronto Argonauts (2016)*;
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
CFL status:	International
	Player stats at PFR

Marquis Spruill (born May 14, 1991) is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft.^[1] He played college football at Syracuse.^[2] He was also a member of the Toronto Argonauts.

Early life

Raised in Hillside, New Jersey, Spruill played prep football at Hillside High School and did a post-graduate year at Fork Union Military Academy after he didn't receive a scholarship offer as a senior at Hillside.^[3]

College career

Spruill attended Syracuse University and played Division 1 football in the Big East and later in the ACC. Spruill recorded 243 tackles, including 41 for a loss (second most in program history), three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and four pass defenses. During his four-year college career, he was a 2011 All-Big East Second-team selection and 2013 All-ACC Honorable mention.^[4]

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons became interested in Spruill as they looked to add depth to the inside linebacker position. They traded their 2014 sixth and seventh round draft picks to the Minnesota Vikings, to move up and select him in the fifth round.^[5] Spruill injured his left knee (torn ACL) on August 6, 2014, ending his rookie season. He was placed on injured reserve and Falcons Team Physician Dr. Spero Karas performed reconstructive knee surgery. The surgery was filmed and shown on HBO series Hard Knocks as the opening segment on the 3rd episode of the 2014 season.^[6] On August 24, 2015, the Falcons released Spruill.^[7]

Toronto Argonauts

On April 4, 2016, the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League announced they had signed Spruill.^[8]^[9] Spruill was released on June 14, 2016.

References

^ Thomas, Jeanna (May 10, 2014). "NFL Draft 2014: Falcons Trade Up, Select Marquis Spruill". The Falcoholic. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
^ "Marquis Spruill - 2012-13 Football". Syracuse University. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
^ Herndon, Mike. "Spruill fits at Fork Union, South Alabama football's next foe", Press-Register, October 30, 2009. Accessed December 13, 2018. "Marquis Spruill made 110 tackles as a senior at Hillside (N.J.) High School last year. He was a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker who had a nose for the ball and was fully qualified academically, but he didn't draw a college offer.... Spruill took his talents to Fork Union Military Academy, a prep school in Virginia just west of Richmond, and has become a leader of the Blue Devils' defense."
^ "Marquis Spruill - 2012 Football". Retrieved April 4, 2016.
^ "2014 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
^ "Hard Knocks Atlanta Episode 3: A different Kind of Cut - Backgrinder". backgrinder.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014.
^ Choate, Dave (August 24, 2015). "Falcons waive 2014 fifth round pick Marquis Spruill, sign WR John Harris". The Falcoholic. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
^ "Argos sign two on defence". Toronto Argonauts. April 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
^ "Toronto Argonauts: Can Marquis Spruill Get His Career Back on Track?". Tip of the Tower. April 4, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.