The Denver Broncos are in the midst of a season going downhill fast and the front office is going to have to start looking at changes soon.
The Broncos are currently preparing for a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and with the league’s trade deadline fast approaching, the team is at the top of the list of teams rumored to be interested in moving players for future picks.
With that being said, the team already needs to have eyes on how the team will look in 2023. One position that has long been an issue for the team is at linebacker and a former XFL player, one with the kind of story that could be a movie, is still trying to work his way onto a professional roster.
Jerimiah Spicer is not a name that is likely to ring bells for NFL fans. He has taken a tough road to reach his ultimate goal, but it is one he is not willing to give up on.
Spicer has taken any opportunity that he can to get on a playing field. With the rebirth of the XFL in 2020, he was drafted by the league’s Los Angeles Wildcats. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Spicer was forced to start over and look for another opportunity.
Prior to that, he played for the Cape Fear Heroes of the American Arena League and in 2018, he led the entire league with 147 tackles.
Before we go further into that story, take a look at a bit of Spicer’s background here.
From sleeping in his car to hearing his name called during the #XFLDraft.
— XFL (@XFL2023) October 28, 2019
The Jerimiah Spicer story is all the #MondayMotivation you'll need. pic.twitter.com/GYMJkiX6Er
Spicer has had official tryouts with the Los Angeles Chargers and Cleveland Browns. He has met with other teams such as the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and had other tryouts scheduled with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys before the pandemic changed those plans as well.
Recently, I had a chance to speak with Mr. Spicer and I had some questions for him pertaining to his journey.
Travis Wakeman: Can you tell us about your playing experience up to this point?
Jerimiah Spicer: “I’ve been playing football since Pop Warner at 11 years old for the Moreno Valley Cougars. That’s when I fell in love with the sport.
I knew instantly this is what I wanted to do. After that, I got taken from my grandma and put in foster homes and group homes, went to 8 different high schools still staying focused on what I love. I played high school football at Banning High School under a great father figure and mentor, coach John Stockham. I use to get my lunch and go to his class and study film while everyone was playing outside.
I earned multiple D1 scholarships from Banning. But I was a ward of the state and my social worker wouldn’t let me leave to visit any of the schools. So I got frustrated and ran away that’s how I ended up at RCC RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE.
They knew who I was already when I walked in the door. I went to College for 5 years struggling through homelessness, sleeping in my car and people’s houses on couches and floors and then my Mom and grandma died.
I use to take bird baths before class when I slept in my car. I was the first one in the bathroom when the bathroom doors opened. Then I went to Bethesda University but the coach who recruited me left so we all left that he recruited. Back to struggling in my car and sleeping at people’s houses, etc. I then said I know I can go pro then I had a film so I started going to NFL training camps passing my film out on DVDs not taking no for an answer”.
TW: What are you doing to stay in playing shape? How soon would you be ready to join an NFL squad?
JS: “I’m running the mountain hitting Category 5 training facility C5 also watching what I eat and staying mentally prepared. Watching a lot of film and just becoming a better me. I’m ready for any team to pick me up right now. I can make an impact on any team.
I’m the guy that if coaches tell me to bring him the ball back I’ma bring the ball back on a consistent basis.”
TW: Is your natural position at linebacker? Inside or outside? What would you consider to be your strengths on the football field?
JS: “My natural position is linebacker. I played outside linebacker in college and that’s why I can guard slots and WRs. When I went pro I switched to middle linebacker but I can literally play OLB, MLB, D-Line, Special Teams and fullback and dominate on a consistent basis. I can stop the run and drop in coverage and bring the ball back to my team.”
TW: Looking specifically at the Denver Broncos, how do you feel you could best help the team right now?
JS: “I can impact the broncos by my teammates feeding off my energy. I make plays back to back and I don’t complain when things don’t go my way, I suck it up and try harder. I never, ever give up. I play for 4 quarters and come through when it matters most. I make game-changing plays. The Broncos need a veteran linebacker who has a high IQ and high motor with contagious energy the team can feed off of and that’s me.”
TW: If things don’t work out in the NFL, what is your next plan to keep your playing dreams alive? Would you consider the XFL this coming spring?
JS: “I don’t really focus on what ifs I just keep pushing. I take what I can get. If the NFL, CFL, USFL or XFL see my gift I’m happy and forever grateful. I’m very durable, never had a football injury in college or the pros. I would love to play professionally again rather it’s the NFL,CFL, USFL, or XFL I’m forever grateful. I can keep motivating the kids to be great and let them know they can do it too no matter where they come from in life”.
TW: Let Broncos Country know anything else you would like to. What kind of player would the team be getting if they were to take a chance on you?
JS: “The Broncos would be getting Jerimiah Spicer a guy who is going to do whatever the coach say. If coach say Spicer I need the ball I’ma go out there and put my life on the line to get the ball back. I don’t understand losing, I understand fighting until I win. If there’s a will there’s a way.”
Should the Broncos consider Jerimiah Spicer in the future?
I have ranted and raved about the Broncos’ linebacker situation for quite some time, particularly on the inside, so I would be open to the team trying anything.
Though Spicer may face long odds of joining an NFL roster, it wouldn’t hurt the team at all to give him a shot with a private workout following next year’s draft to see if he could earn a spot on the 90-man roster. He has what it takes (video) to play, he just needs the right opportunity.
His story is one of courage and inspiration and even if that never leads to an NFL playing field, it’s still a story worth becoming familiar with and talking about.