By Darnell Myrick
Richmond, VA., – We are five days into the Washington Redskins Training Camp here in Richmond and players have been going at it for an opportunity to wear the iconic burgundy and gold during the upcoming regular season.
While much of the focus has been on QB Robert Griffin III, LB Ryan Kerrigan, and many other notable Redskin players, rookie wide receiver, Evan Spencer, has been making strides at training camp. The 6’2 receiver was the 187th pick in this year’s NFL draft in the 6th round.
A native of Vernon Hills, Illinois, Spencer was a four year football player at Ohio State University. He played on the 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes team that won the National Championship team. His father, Tim Spencer, played for the San Diego Chargers from 1985-1990 and is the current running backs coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Since being with the Redskins, he has spent his time looking up to teammates, Pierre Garcon and Andre Roberts, because to figure out what he needs to do on a daily basis to become a better player.
“They are pros,” Spencer said. “They come to work, they take of their bodies and when they leave they continue to take care of themselves. For me, its guys like that that I look up to.”
When asked about what he feels the need to improve on, he wants to become a more technical wide receiver.
“Being a rookie, you have to be able to absorb as much as you can and be able to be fast,” Spencer said. “I’m just going to focus on getting in my playbook and being technical with everything I do like snapping down on my routes, getting out of my routes, finding the ball, and catching it.”
In his spare time, he is an avid golfer. Spencer says that he started playing golf when he was much younger, but a year or two after he started playing football.
“Typically, I’ll be somewhere between the high 70’s to mid-80’s,” Spencer said. “I shot a 77 before and that was the best ever shot. Everything I hit was going right towards the hole and I was feeling myself a little bit, but it was fun.”
His Ohio State Buckeyes open their season on Labor Day when they travel to Blacksburg, Virginia to face the Virginia Tech Hokies, who defeated the Buckeyes last year in Columbus. Spencer gave the Buckeyes his vote of confidence as he hopes the Buckeyes get even with the Hokies.
The team is off today, but they will back suited up and ready to go on Wednesday.
