Micheal Spurlock
Encyclopedia
Michael Curtis Spurlock (born January 31, 1983 in Indianola, Mississippi
) is an American football
wide receiver
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
at Mississippi
.
Spurlock has also played for the San Francisco 49ers
and Florida Tuskers.
in Indianola, Mississippi
, he passed for Class 5A state records of 3,348 yards and 35 TDs in 2000, also rushed for another 1,161 yards and scored 10 TDs, giving him 4,509 total yards and 45 TDs during senior campaign. He also currently holds the Mississippi High School State record for passing yards in a single game (581) and TD's in a single game (9). He earned three letters
in football
, four in baseball
and three in basketball
, playing as a shortstop
-pitcher
in baseball, was three-time selection as team's Most Valuable Player
and Best Defensive Player. He was also the starting guard in basketball.
eight, seven at quarterback
and the season finale at running back
, as a senior in 2005. As quarterback he passed for 1,709 yards on 142-of-267 completions with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions and rushed for two touchdowns. He appeared in seven-of-11 games in 2004 as a junior, connected on 30-of-70 passes for 341 yards, and rushed 27 times for 59 yards. He only played in two of 13 games as a sophomore in 2003 as he was behind Eli Manning
on the depth chart
and he completed seven-of-eight passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. His only action of 2002 as a redshirt freshman came against the Arkansas State Indians. He redshirted in 2001.
in 2006
. Spurlock spent most of the year on the practice squad but was promoted to the roster on December 29, 2006 and in his first NFL game against the San Diego Chargers
tied for the team lead with four receptions.
franchise history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in a regular season game, taking a kick back 90 yards for a score in a game against the Atlanta Falcons
. At the time, Tampa Bay had not returned a kickoff for a touchdown in their entire 32 year history when this was accomplished. He was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 31, 2008 but was quickly re-signed to their practice squad.
.
After the 2009 preseason, Spurlock was officially signed to the team, due to first round draft pick Michael Crabtree
holding out. He was waived on November 3.
On November 7, 2010 vs the Atlanta Falcons, Spurlock returned a squib kick for a Touchdown. The 2nd of his career.
Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sunflower County.-History:...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Mississippi
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
.
Spurlock has also played for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and Florida Tuskers.
Early years
At Gentry High SchoolIndianola School District
The Indianola School District is a public school district based in Indianola, Mississippi .-History:Isabel Lee was the school district's first African-American board member.After the U.S. v...
in Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sunflower County.-History:...
, he passed for Class 5A state records of 3,348 yards and 35 TDs in 2000, also rushed for another 1,161 yards and scored 10 TDs, giving him 4,509 total yards and 45 TDs during senior campaign. He also currently holds the Mississippi High School State record for passing yards in a single game (581) and TD's in a single game (9). He earned three letters
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, four in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and three in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, playing as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
-pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in baseball, was three-time selection as team's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and Best Defensive Player. He was also the starting guard in basketball.
College career
While at Ole Miss, he played in all 11 games, startingStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
eight, seven at quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and the season finale at running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, as a senior in 2005. As quarterback he passed for 1,709 yards on 142-of-267 completions with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions and rushed for two touchdowns. He appeared in seven-of-11 games in 2004 as a junior, connected on 30-of-70 passes for 341 yards, and rushed 27 times for 59 yards. He only played in two of 13 games as a sophomore in 2003 as he was behind Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
on the depth chart
Depth chart
In sports, a depth chart is used to show the placements of the starting players and the secondary players. Generally a starting player will be listed first or on top while a back-up will be listed below...
and he completed seven-of-eight passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. His only action of 2002 as a redshirt freshman came against the Arkansas State Indians. He redshirted in 2001.
Arizona Cardinals
Spurlock signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in 2006
2006 Arizona Cardinals season
The 2006 Arizona Cardinals season began with the team trying to improve on their 5-11 record in 2005. They also moved into the Cardinals Stadium in Glendale, Arizona . The stadium was christened University of Phoenix Stadium on September 26...
. Spurlock spent most of the year on the practice squad but was promoted to the roster on December 29, 2006 and in his first NFL game against the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
tied for the team lead with four receptions.
First stint with Buccaneers
On December 16, 2007, Spurlock became the first player in Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
franchise history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in a regular season game, taking a kick back 90 yards for a score in a game against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. At the time, Tampa Bay had not returned a kickoff for a touchdown in their entire 32 year history when this was accomplished. He was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 31, 2008 but was quickly re-signed to their practice squad.
San Francisco 49ers
On January 21, 2009, Spurlock was signed to a future contract by the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
After the 2009 preseason, Spurlock was officially signed to the team, due to first round draft pick Michael Crabtree
Michael Crabtree
Michael Alex Crabtree is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the 49ers with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football for Texas Tech, where he received recognition as one of the nation's...
holding out. He was waived on November 3.
Second stint with Buccaneers
Spurlock re-signed with the Buccaneers on December 22, 2009. In his first game back with the Bucs, he returned a punt for a touchdown, leading to a 20-17 victory for Tampa Bay over the 13-1 New Orleans Saints.On November 7, 2010 vs the Atlanta Falcons, Spurlock returned a squib kick for a Touchdown. The 2nd of his career.