One on one with Spencer Region

Mammoth 6-foot-6, 340 pound Spencer Region has built a reputation of being one of the nastiest offensive linemen in Alabama. One result of his nasty attitude on the football field is his ability to drive block opponents with devastating force. Linemen refer to the art as “pancaking” your opponent.

Region’s favorite quality of being an offensive lineman is pancaking opposing defenders. Judging from his numbers, a staggering 105 pancake blocks in 2009, he is pretty good at practicing the art of the pancake block.

“I just want to put everyone I block into the dirt.” Region told Crimson Confidential. “If they are eating dirt then they aren’t tackling any Cullman skill players, which is what we want.”

Region’s matter-of-fact type approach to both football and recruiting is a testament to his character, drive, and work ethic.

Colleges around the country have been keeping up with Region with mail and calls to his head coach.

“I am taking a business like approach to recruiting. I need to be looking for the best school out there that fits me best and that can take my game to the highest level possible.”

Region had an in depth conversation a while back with former Alabama standout and current UAB recruiter Will Friend. Friend opened his eyes to the entire recruiting process, shared with him some friend recruiting insight, and capped it all off with a scholarship offer.

“UAB is the first team to officially offer and it means a lot to mean that they did so. They have an incredible offensive line staff with NFL experience. Coach Friend and Coach Calloway have both worked with lineman that played in the league and they know what it takes. Coach Friend saw my new junior film and offered me right away. He said that I have developed into a player that could play in the league one day.”

Region is known by people close to him as a weight room warrior, either working out in Cullman or with a personal trainer, he devotes his entire off season now to becoming the best offensive lineman humanly possible. He bench presses 345, squats 550, and power cleans a staggering 320 pounds. With those numbers alone, they will help garner him a tremendous amount of attention.

“I don’t want to rest, I don’t want to slow down, I don’t want to stop working.” Region responded. “I want to keep getting better, I want take my game to a totally different level. To do that, I am going to have to keep working harder than ever before.”

Region has come a long way since he was that awkward 6-foot-3 300 pound 8th grader who ran that 7 flat forty yard dash.

“I was sick of just being a big guy, I felt like I was given something by God and it is my job to use it.”

Region will quickly become one of the most talked about lineman in the southeast for 2011.

His combination of a 6-foot-6 340 pound frame along with his staggering weight room measurables is reason enough to have the recruiting community buzzing.

“I want to check out schools that are going to be the best for me and my future, not just schools I’m a fan of.”

He clearly has taken a business like approach to recruiting. His stock has soared this year winning all-state and helping guide his Cullman Bearcat team to the AHSAA quarterfinals, losing to Russellville to end the playoff run..

Region has garnered attention from schools as far west as Oregon, SEC, and ACC conferences. He has expressed interest in some other schools out of state and is opening his recruitment up to other programs.

A written offer from Alabama is clearly something Region is hoping for.

“Alabama has always been the school I pulled for. I have been an Alabama fan as long as I remember. They will be among the top schools on my list if they send a written offer. Right now the only offer I have is UAB and it means a lot to me that they have that much confidence in me. Hopefully my film and all the work I have put in both in season and off season will pay off.”

He also was very high on what Tennessee has been doing as of late.

“They (UT’s staff) have been talking with my head coach and told him that they were going to offer after they saw my film. I really have been surprised with Tennessee and what they have been doing in recruiting. I like their hard nosed offense and I think I could be a good guard in that system. If Tennessee offers, they’ll be a team I take a really hard look at.
Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks are another school Region is watching closely.

“Coach Kelly is a really good coach and I love their system. It’s really similar to what we do at my school. I love their uniforms, the stadium, and just the way the program is ran. I would love to visit Eugene one day.”

For now, Region heads back to work with his eyes focused forward to improving his stock anyway possible.

“I am not satisfied yet. I’m going to be humble but hungry. I know that there are a lot of goals that haven’t been met yet and to meet those goals I have to keep working. That is what I’m going to do. Hard work.”