Spears, a 6-foot-2, 228-pounder, moved from middle linebacker to defensive end following the third game of the season.
“We were a little undersized on the line and I’m one of the biggest players on the team,” Spears said.
The move has resulted in three sacks in three games for Spears including one this past Friday night when he was lined up against Robert Crisp of cross-town rival Chapel Hill.
“That was a big highlight for me,” Spears said of the sack he scored over Crisp. “He’s a good player.”
On the year, Spears has collected 25 tackles.
With six games under his belt, Spears is in the process of finishing up a senior highlight DVD that schools like North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest have requested.
UNC, though, is Spears’ undeniable leader.
“I just like the area and I’ve done a lot of work at the UNC children’s hospital,” Spears said. “Even after I graduate I want to be close to continue to help out. My parents are both on the board of visitors there… I’m thinking it would be good to be a Carolina graduate.”
Spears, who has attended every UNC home game this fall, is in constant contact with the UNC coaching staff.
“I don’t have an offer yet, but they do seem like they are showing interest,” Spears said. “Hopefully, I’ll get an offer. If not, hopefully I’ll get in and get a chance to walk-on and earn a scholarship.”
With scholarships limited and verbal commitments from three linebackers, UNC might not have a scholarship available for Spears.
“We haven’t talked about [walking on], but if that does happen I’ll be happy with an opportunity to walk-on and earn a scholarship,” Spears said.