Spada's foot garners attention from NFL scouts

Doug Spada wishes he hadn't been forced to punt 10 times Saturday.

Spada didn't mind the work, but fewer punts would have meant Southeast Missouri State was faring better.

Still, Spada was among the bright spots during Southeast's 70-3 loss at 17th-ranked Cincinnati.

Spada, Southeast's senior All-American, averaged 45.8 yards on his 10 punts after not attempting one during the season-opening 72-3 mauling of NAIA Quincy.

"Maybe two or three, but 10 is a little much," Spada said following Tuesday's practice. "But it was nice to get the season underway after I didn't have to punt the first game."

By virtue of his performance against one of America's top Division I-A teams, Spada leads the nation's Division I-AA punters through two weeks of the season with that 45.8 average.

That doesn't mean much to Spada this early in the year, although he had no complaints about the way he struck the ball. Only two of his punts were returned, although one was brought back for a touchdown.

"I was happy with eight out of the 10," Spada said. "I think I'm hitting the ball well. But it [being No. 1 nationally] means nothing right now until the end of the season.

"A lot of guys start the season off well. It's how you finish that matters."

Spada's 10 punts were a career high. Three of his kicks traveled more than 50 yards, including a 57-yarder.

Of course, big-time punting is nothing new to Spada, who already has racked up a multitude of All-American honors.

Spada ranked third nationally and led the Ohio Valley Conference with an average of 44.7 yards per punt last season as he made four All-American squads, including a first-team nod from the American Football Coaches Association.

Spada earned All-American honorable mention as a sophomore, averaging 42.5 yards per punt, and has become just the third Southeast football player to earn All-American honors in multiple years, joining punter David Simonhoff (2004 to 2006) and tight end Ray Goodson (2003 and 2004).

The accolades continued to pour in for Spada before the 2009 campaign as he was named a first team Sports Network preseason All-American and also was placed on the Consensus Draft Services preseason All-American squad.

"He's got a real strong leg and he's a very good athlete," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "He does a lot of good things for us."

Spada not only has made his mark at Southeast as a punter. He is in his third year handling all the kicking duties, including field goals, extra points and kickoffs.

"It's a little unusual for one person to handle all those jobs," Samuel said. "But he does them all well."

Spada has attempted just two field goals, both from in close, so far this year. He booted a 20-yarder against Quincy and a 23-yarder at Cincinnati for Southeast's only points.

Spada was 15 of 24 on field goals last year, with a long of 47 yards, and went 14 of 22 as a sophomore with a career-long 50-yarder.

Handling all the kicking and punting "definitely takes a toll on my body," said Spada, who as a true freshman primarily was used for kickoffs and led the OVC in touchbacks with 15. "But I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love to get out there as much as I can."

Samuel said Spada is noticeably stronger this year and the personable native of Shelby, N.C., a town of about 20,000 less than an hour's drive from Charlotte, quickly concurred.

The 6-foot-1 Spada, who is listed in Southeast's media guide as weighing 190 pounds, said he is up to 200 pounds after putting on about 15 pounds over the summer.

"I'm definitely the strongest I've ever been," he said. "I feel like I don't have to put in as much effort [on kicks and punts] to get the results."

Spada, who boomed a 55-yard field goal in high school while also excelling in soccer and swimming, ranks high on most of Southeast's single-season and career lists for punting, field goals, PATs and points.

Consistent performances and his strong right leg have Spada on the radar of professional scouts.

"They're all coming around and looking at him," Samuel said.

Spada, who is majoring in general studies with a marketing minor as he eyes a possible career in sales, would love to give the NFL a shot.

"I'd definitely like to have the dream come true," he said. "But I definitely have a backup plan because the odds are against me."