Dec. 4, 2006
Spead was the unit’s top nickel back in passing situations. He quickly gained a reputation for sure tackling and creating turnovers.
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St. Louis, Mo. – Vanderbilt cornerback Darlron Spead has been named to the All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team by a leading national weekly sports publication.
Spead, a redshirt freshman from Kingsland, Ga., was the Commodores’ lone representative on the All-SEC Freshman squad announced last Friday by the Sporting News. The magazine’s all-conference and All-America teams are among the nation’s most prestigious honors for first-year collegiate players.
Last year, the magazine named Commodore receiver Earl Bennett, safety Reshard Langford and placekicker Bryant Hahnfeldt to the All-SEC freshman unit, and eventually recognized Bennett as a first team freshman All-American.
Spead did not earn an official start in the Commodore secondary, but was the unit’s top nickel back in passing situations. He quickly gained a reputation for sure tackling and creating turnovers.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson was pleased for Spead, one of several youngsters contributing in the Commodore defensive backfield.
“I’m very happy for Darlron, and appreciative to the Sporting News for recognizing a player who could have easily gone unnoticed,” Johnson said. “Darlron might not have started for our defense, but our coaches considered him a starter in every sense of the word. His contribution was extremely valuable to our defensive production.”
Spead, a product of south Georgia’s powerful Camden County H.S., shared the Commodore team lead with three interceptions. Spead returned his first interception 26 yards against Arkansas. His second career pick allowed Vanderbilt to narrow their deficit at Ole Miss to 17-10. The Commodores scored a touchdown one play after Spead’s last pickoff at Duke to go ahead 28-0 in an eventual 45-28 victory.
Spead also registered five defensed passes, most on the team. He was credited with 16 total tackles, including 14 primary stops, one tackle for loss, and a blocked punt at Kentucky.
The entire Sporting News’ 2006 SEC All-Freshman Team follows:
OFFENSE
Wide Receivers: Percy Harvin, Florida; Damian Williams, Arkansas
Tight End: Tommy Trott, Auburn*
Tackles: Ciron Black, LSU*; Andre Smith, Alabama
Guards: John Jerry, Ole Miss; Ronnie Wilson, Florida*
Center: Josh McNeil, Tennessee*
Quarterback: Tim Tebow, Florida
Running Backs: LaMarcus Coker, Tennessee*; Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State
DEFENSE
Ends: Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU*; Eric Norwood, South Carolina
Tackles: Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn*; Kade Weston, Georgia
LB Tray Blackmon, Auburn*; Rodney Paulk, South Carolina; Prince Hall, Alabama*
Safeties: Aairon Savage, Auburn*; Emanuel Cook, South Carolina
Cornerbacks: Trevard Lindley, Kentucky; Darlron Spead, Vanderbilt*
SPECIALISTS
Placekicker: Joshua Shene, Ole Miss
Punter: P.J. Fitzgerald, Alabama*
Return Specialist: Javier Arenas, Alabama
* denotes redshirt
