This is the 11th-year for the traditional year-end gala honoring more than 750 student-athletes for their achievements on the field and in the classroom during the 2011-12 school year.
This is the 11th-year for the traditional year-end gala honoring more than 750 student-athletes for their achievements on the field and in the classroom during the 2011-12 school year.
This is the 11th-year for the traditional year-end gala honoring more than 750 student-athletes for their achievements on the field and in the classroom during the 2011-12 school year.
UND.com goes inside the second practice of spring 2012 with the Fighting Irish, focusing on the ND linebacking corps.
CAREER: Second-year player saw action in eight games as a rookie, predominantly on special teams ... did see limited action as a backup linebacker ... batted an injury that hindered him throughout the season ... enters fall practice with an opportunity to earn more significant playing time at the linebacker position.
2010 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in eight games in 2010 ... one of six freshmen to make their Irish debut against Purdue ... saw the field against Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Utah and Miami (Fla.) ... majority of playing time came on multiple Irish special teams ... recorded one solo tackle against Boston College ... totaled 105 plays on special teams and 10 plays on defense.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: First-team all-Colorado selection by Denver Post as junior and honorable mention all-state by Post as senior in 2009 ... played quarterback for Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., and helped lead Rebels to state semifinals as junior and quarterfinals as senior in 2009 ... rated by Rivals.com as second-best player in Colorado and the 27th-best athlete nationally ... labeled as "best athlete" in Colorado high school football prior to start of 2009 season by Denver Post ... missed four games as a senior in 2009 due to injury ... passed for 517 yards on 41-for-64 throwing with 10 touchdowns and rushed for 386 yards with four TDs in 2009 ... also kicked five of seven PATs, connected on both field-goal attempts (one for 46 yards), punted 14 times for 35.9-yard average, intercepted one pass and made 13.5 tackles as cornerback ... rushed for 178 yards in one 2009 game vs. Chatfield ... first-team all-Big 8 Conference selection for 2009 on Columbine team that finished 8-4 and qualified for Colorado 5A playoffs ... played quarterback in wing-T offense and passed 57 times for 511 yards as junior in 2008, with eight passes for TDs ... totaled 874 rushing yards in 2008 and averaged 9.8 rushing yards per carry with 10 rushing TDs ... led Columbine to 11-2 record in 2008 ... named all-conference linebacker in 2007 and also served as placekicker for Rebels as sophomore ... named Denver Post high school student-athlete of week on Sept. 6, 2009 ... won seven consecutive Carnation Bowls, South Jeffco (Colo.) youth league's version of Super Bowl ... compiled 77-1 record in youth football with one loss occurring as he sat out due to injury ... played for coach Andy Lowry at Columbine ... born Dec. 30, 1991 ... son of Don and Janet Spond ... enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters.
