Martrell Spaight had one question for his fellow Arkansas Razorbacks alumni while working Friday at the Arkansas Legends Pro Camp at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.
"What is the secret to staying in the NFL?" Spaight asked.
Martrell Spaight glance
AGE 21
POSITION Linebacker
HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-0, 236
NFL TEAM Washington
COLLEGE Arkansas
HOMETOWN North Little Rock
NOTEWORTHY Fifth-round selection (141st overall) by the Redskins in this year’s NFL Draft. … Led SEC in tackles in 2014 with 128 and was a firstteam All-SEC selection. … Helped lead Arkansas to a Texas Bowl victory over Texas last season. … Two-time junior college All-American at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and a first team NJCAA All-American. … Graduated from North Little Rock High School in 2011.
Give the rookie credit for knowing his place among former Razorbacks and NFL veterans Darren McFadden, Peyton Hillis, Clint Stoerner and D.J. Williams, who have combined for more than 20 years on NFL rosters.
McFadden, a two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up at Arkansas before being drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, said that trying to earn a spot on special teams could be a good option for Spaight, who is preparing for his first training camp with the Washington Redskins, the team that drafted Spaight in the fifth round of the NFL draft in early May.
"Whatever you can do to contribute to the team," said McFadden, who spent seven seasons in Oakland before signing during the offseason with the Dallas Cowboys. "Go out there and work hard and give 100 percent every time."
Spaight, 6-0, 236 pounds, led the SEC in tackles with 128, including 10 1/2 for loss, en route to earning first-team All-SEC honors. He also intercepted a pass, forced 2 fumbles and recovered another while spearheading a Razorbacks defense that ranked among the top 10 nationally in total defense last season.
Spaight reports for training camp July 29 in Richmond, Va., but he said Friday he isn't concerned about making a big splash immediately even though the Redskins finished tied for 29th in scoring defense last season when it gave up an average of 27.4 points per game.
"I have to do my job and not focus so much on being the man or being this guy or that guy," Spaight said. "I need to focus on myself and make plays on special teams. Once I get my opportunity to play, just make the most of it."
To get to that point, advice like he received from Williams could go a long way.
"I told him to do what he's always done," said Williams, who is currently a free agent but has bounced around in the NFL over the past four years with Green Bay, Jacksonville, New England and Tampa Bay. "He plays with tenacity and relentless effort. I think he has a bright future in the NFL."
If Spaight ends up on the Redskins' game-day roster, he will be on the opposite sideline from McFadden when the Redskins face the NFC East rival Cowboys on Dec. 7 in Washington and Jan. 3 in Arlington, Texas.
Spaight, who grew up in North Little Rock, said he watched Little Rock's McFadden when McFadden played at Arkansas in 2005-2007 and that he is looking forward to the matchup.
"He'll be playing pretty hard, and I'll be playing hard as well," Spaight said. "Two hard players going head to head, getting the adrenaline going. At the end of the day, it's a good competition."
McFadden said there is a bond between players who attended the same school, but that bond extends only so far in the NFL.
"It's like a fraternity or a brotherhood, but once you're on the field it's different," McFadden said. "You play ball, and you take care of your business out there."
Stoerner, who played quarterback for the Cowboys in 2000-2003 and for the Miami Dolphins in 2004, came away impressed with Spaight.
"A guy with that approach and mentality, obviously coupled with the skills he has, is going to go to a long way," said Stoerner, who played at Arkansas in 1996-1999 before signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. "There may be a bump in the road along the way because he may not be a fit for a certain team or the numbers don't fit with a certain team, but he's going to make it in the NFL."
"It's a matter of time. Whether it's this year or five years, I don't know. But as long as he keeps that 'What do I have to do to be successful in the NFL?' approach, he's going to be fine."
Sports on 07/11/2015