Calvin Spears is a 6’3″, 201 pound, class of 2025 athlete for the Madison Prep Chargers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I put athlete because Calvin actually plays four different positions: Kicker, Wide Receiver, safety, and Outside Linebacker. Calvin primarily played at Kicker last season and showed off his accuracy with his leg, going 4-4 on field goals, 17-26 on extra points, and accounting for 11 touchbacks on kickoffs. He also saw time on both offense and defense, adding 2 catches for 10 yards as well as 3 tackles, 2 of which were behind the line of scrimmage. We see a lot of two-way players in high school football, but Calvin is the rare three-way player. I asked him who he looks up to, and he mentioned Julio Jones and DK Metcalf on offense, and both Myles Garrett and Derwin James on defense.
For his play on special teams, Calvin was awarded with both a spot on the all-district and all-metro teams for 2022. He still has two seasons left of high school football, and that means two more seasons to add more accolades. Calvin also participates at camps, such as our camp recently in Rayville, Louisiana, and tied one other participant with the best 40-yard dash time at 4.53 seconds. He added a 4.38 shuttle time and a 9’0″ long jump to that, as well as impressing coaches in the 1v1 and 7v7 portions of the camp.
While interviewing Calvin, I found out he is actually a third-generation player. His father played at Grambling State in the early 2000s, and then later for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe, and two different teams in the Arena League. His grandfather also played at Grambling State and later as a receiver for the 49ers alongside Jerry Rice.
Calvin has an extremely impressive 4.1 GPA, which will go a long way for him as the recruiting trail should start soon. Calvin doesn’t hold any offers at the moment.
I recently had a chance to interview Calvin and ask him some questions:
Why and at what age did you start playing football?
“I started playing football at 14, and I started playing because of my dad.”
Have you always played your current position, or did you play a different position growing up?
“I didn’t start playing until 9th grade, but so far, I’ve played all the same positions.”
What sets you apart from everyone else on the field?
“My IQ; all the preparation I make before a game sets me apart.”
What is your favorite accomplishment so far in your football career?
“Kicking a game winner against St. Thomas More during my freshmen year – after that, I felt like I could really do something on the football field.”
What is your favorite memory of playing football so far?
“My first ever varsity game.”
How do you balance athletics and academics?
“It’s a pretty easy balance – the same effort I put on the football field mirrors the work I put in the classroom. It’s a character thing.”
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced on the field?
“Learning fast, since most of the people that I play against have been playing since a child.”
How do you stay physically fit outside of football?
“I play three sports, so all-year-round, I’m doing something whether it’s basketball, football or track.”
What are you hoping to achieve in this upcoming season?
“A state championship .”
What is your end goal for your football career?
“To make sure my parents don’t have to work ,and my kids don’t have to worry about money.”
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned playing football?
“The time you put in pays off.”
How do you prepare for big games?
“Every game is a big game – it’s always the same; listen to the same songs, eat a good meal, and drink 1.5 gallons the night before.”
What type of play style do you have?
“Technical. I try to make sure I have no wasted motions, and everything I do is fundamental.”
Lastly, who is the biggest role model in your life?
“My father.”
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