 Spievey with the Detroit Lions in 2011 | |||||||||||
| No. 42 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1988-04-15)April 15, 1988 (age 37) Middletown, Connecticut, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Xavier (Middletown) | ||||||||||
| College | Iowa | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2010: 3rd round, 66th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Amari Spievey (born April 15, 1988) is an American former professionalfootball player who was asafety for theDetroit Lions of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theIowa Hawkeyes. He was considered one of the top cornerback prospects for the2010 NFL draft and was selected by the Lions in the third round.[1]
Spievey attendedXavier High School, where he played cornerback and running back, and finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in school history. He rushed for 3,606 yards and 50 touchdowns in his career, along with 53 receptions for 858 yards and eight touchdowns.
On defense, Spievey made 87 career tackles and 16 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. He was a two-time coaches all-state selection and was named the Connecticut Player of the Year as a senior in 2005, the year the team won the Class LL state championship.
Regarded as a two-star recruit byRivals.com, Spievey was listed as the #15 prospect fromNew England.[2]
Spieveyredshirted his initial year at Iowa to preserve a year of eligibility. Spievey transferred to Iowa Central Community College after being academically ineligible for his sophomore season. There he recorded seven passinterceptions and 242 return yards. He returned two of those interceptions fortouchdowns and also scored two touchdowns onkickoff returns and recorded four blockedpunts. Iowa Central CC posted 9–2 overall record to earn a No. seven national ranking, and Spievey earned junior college All-American honors.
In his redshirt sophomore season at Iowa, Spievey started all games at right cornerback and ranked third on the team with 68 tackles, including 43 solo tackles and 25 assists. He also had four pass interceptions and six pass break-ups. The Big Ten coaches named him Second-team All-Big Ten afterwards. The following year, he was named to the First-team.
By mid-season of 2009,Sports Illustrated'sTony Pauline listed Spievey as one of the "risers" for the2010 NFL draft.[3] On January 11, 2010, Spievey announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.[4] Spievey was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 2nd pick of the 3rd round (66th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.[5]
Although he playedcornerback in college, Spievey was moved tosafety by the Lions to take advantage of his tackling ability and instincts.[6]
Spievey opened the 2011 NFL season as a starter at safety for the Lions.[7]
On August 31, 2013, he was released by the Lions
| Year | Team | GP | COMB | TOTAL | AST | SACK | FF | FR | FR YDS | INT | IR YDS | AVG IR | LNG | TD | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | DET | 15 | 51 | 37 | 14 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 18 | 26 | 0 | 3 |
| 2011 | DET | 15 | 70 | 62 | 8 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 47 | 16 | 30 | 0 | 4 |
| 2012 | DET | 5 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 35 | 142 | 117 | 25 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 82 | 16 | 30 | 0 | 7 |
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