College preview: Former Mansfield Timberview star leads way for Air Force

Christian Spears never pictured himself caring more about academics and life lessons than football.

Yet, as a senior defensive back at Air Force, Spears’ top priorities are often off the field.

“It’s something I couldn’t see in myself as a freshman in high school,” said Spears, who played for Mansfield Timberview. “I can remember sometimes waking up in the morning and wondering how I was going to make it through the day with academics and the little things and then football. But that motivated me, and it’s a great honor to be a part of this and see all of the guys who did it before me and be a leader for guys here now.”

While on the field, Spears has been the defensive leader. After playing a year on the junior varsity, Spears has started 18 straight games for Air Force. In 2012, he totaled 92 tackles and had an interception. Last season, he led the team in tackles with 91 and had two interceptions.

“A lot of time, as the free safety, I’m the extra hat,” Spears said. “The linebackers and D-line are getting in there and filling gaps and everything. I just have to be the last hat, the one who sprints up and get to the ball, sometimes one-on-one.”

Through three games, Spears is third on the team with 17 tackles.

“The defense has been flying around this year and being more active,” he said. “So it’s more difficult for me to finish the game with 10 or 11 tackles now. That’s a good thing, because the ball is stopping at the line of scrimmage and not getting to the second line of defense. That’s fine with me. It allows me to worry more about when the ball is in the air.”

Coming out of high school, Spears just wanted to play football for a Division I program. He got that and more at Air Force.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of the football team, and we are all considered cadets first here at the Academy,” Spears said. “We have to live up to those standards — live honorably with integrity and have character.

“I know that there is more to life than football, and I’ve had instructors in the classroom and coaches on the field teach lessons and aspects about life. It’s been a great opportunity and experience for me.”

Spears is majoring in behavioral science and hopes to become a teacher.

“When it’s all said and done, I know I will move all over serving my country in the United States Air Force, but once I’m retired, I’m going to settle back down in Texas,” he said.

This week, Air Force (2-1, 0-1 Mountain West) will take on Boise State (3-1, 1-0) at home. The Broncos have won three straight after dropping their first game 35-13 to Ole Miss.

“Our preparation has been good for Boise State,” Spears said. “Personally, I’m feeling good. Still working on our coverages and schemes in the secondary. I’m really confident about how we are going to play on Saturday.”

Games to watch

Missouri (3-1) at No. 13 South Carolina (3-1, 2-1), 6 p.m. Saturday, ESPN: South Carolina has been questionable at home so far this year. The Gamecocks were steamrolled by Texas A&M in the season’s opening game but held off then-No. 6-ranked Georgia for a huge win two weeks ago. Missouri is coming off a bad loss to Indiana, but QB Maty Mauk will have plenty of opportunity to get his team back on track against a South Carolina defense that has given up a lot of yardage and big plays.

No. 8 Notre Dame (3-0) at Syracuse (2-1), 7 p.m. Saturday, WFAA/8: Everett Golson missed all of 2013 with a suspension following an academic violation, but the missed time hasn’t been evident on the field. Golson has thrown seven touchdowns and run for four (with no turnovers) to lead a resurgent Notre Dame team. Syracuse will try to keep Golson and his offense off the field with a strong rushing attack that is averaging 265 yards a game.

Numbers

27 Seasons since Indiana defeated a top 20 team on the road before the Hoosiers upset then-No. 18 Missouri last weekend. Indiana’s last such win came against No. 9 Ohio State in 1987.

495 Rushing yards combined between Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine (242 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries) and Wisconsin junior Melvin Gordon (253 yards and five touchdowns on 13 carries) on Saturday.

Quotable

Tweet of the week

“Thank You #Hailstate Family for all the Support and Love! Last Night was one to Remember ... but only the Beginning! #Hailstate” – Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, who is from Louisiana, after leading the Bulldogs to an upset win at LSU (which was ranked No. 8). It was Mississippi State’s first win against LSU since 1999 and first win in Baton Rouge, La., since 1991 — before Prescott was born.

Rising, falling, holding steady

Mississippi State The Bulldogs’ big road win vaulted Mississippi State from unranked to No. 14. Now State has a week off to prepare to host No. 6 Texas A&M on Oct. 4.

Jameis Winston The reigning Heisman Trophy winner had to sit out the entire game while his No. 1 Florida State team gutted out a win against Clemson. Winston’s suspension, for shouting obscenities in public, set off a chain of criticisms and character critiques. Some analysts even began questioning Winston’s NFL future and draft position.

Brady Hoke and Will Muschamp The two coaches, Hoke at Michigan and Muschamp at Florida, entered the season under tremendous pressure to deliver winning seasons, but both have faltered so far. Michigan has two straight losses, a shutout to Notre Dame and a 26-10 home defeat to Utah, and Florida needed overtime to get past Kentucky at home before losing 42-21 at Alabama last weekend.

Power Five grades

B ACC: East Carolina made in-state rival North Carolina look foolish in a 70-41 blowout, Miami faltered in the second half against Nebraska, and the conference’s top team, No. 1-ranked Florida State, showed flaws in an overtime win against Clemson. Not the best week for the ACC.

C- Big Ten: Finally, some good news for the Big Ten. The conference went 12-1 last week, with Indiana knocking off a ranked Missouri team on the road and Nebraska looking strong against Miami. Michigan was the lone black eye for the Big Ten, losing badly at home to Utah.

B+ Big 12: It was a light week for the conference with just four teams in action, but Oklahoma opened Big 12 play with an impressive win at West Virginia. Kansas avoided another embarrassing loss and topped Central Michigan, and Kansas State competed with No. 5 Auburn, an SEC power, which will make the whole conference look better when the playoff debate heats up.

A- Pac-12: The Pac-12 didn’t lose a nonconference game — the Utes beat Michigan on the road — but No. 2 Oregon had a tough time getting past Washington State on the road. Arizona stayed unbeaten thanks to a last-second Hail Mary, which should be in the conversation for the best play of the year. The Pac-12 should continue being a lot of fun to watch.

A- SEC: The SEC West is the best division in college football, but the East isn’t living up to the conference’s reputation. Florida was no match for Alabama, and Missouri fell hard against Indiana at home. But the Crimson Tide, Auburn, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are all ranked in the AP’s Top 15.

Heisman watch

QB Marcus Mariota, junior, Oregon: Last week, 21-for-25 passing for 329 yards, five touchdowns; 58 yards rushing in 38-31 win at Washington State.

RB Todd Gurley, junior, Georgia: Last week, six carries for 73 yards in 66-0 win against Troy.

QB Everett Golson, senior, Notre Dame: Last week, off.

This story was originally published September 25, 2014 at 11:36 AM.