Sep 5, 2013
Record-breaking Vanderbilt kicker Carey Spear is one of 30 student-athletes nationwide under consideration for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate football.
Spear is one of six student-athletes from the Southeastern Conference under consideration for the honor, which recognizes standout senior players who excel both on and off the field. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
In 2008, Vanderbilt student-athlete Shan Foster captured the Senior CLASS Award for men’s basketball.
In 2012, Spear put together the finest season ever by a Vanderbilt placekicker, setting team records with 20 field goals and 87 points scored by a kicker. The product of Mayfield Village, Ohio was named Second Team All-Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press after the season.
The Lou Groza Award candidate displayed both accuracy and a strong leg during the 2012 season. He ranked among the nation’s most consistent kickers by making 20-of-24 field goals, converting at a 83.3 percent clip. He also made all 15 field goal tries inside 43 yards. He was 5-of-9 from beyond 44 yards, including two conversions of at least 50 yards.
For the last two years, Spear and several Vanderbilt teammates have actively contributed to community outreach projects guided by CrossPoint Church, including mentoring women struggling with addiction and adopt-a-block cleanup efforts in Nashville. He has assisted and mentored clients of Nashville’s Safe Harbor, a recovery project aiming to keep adult men free of drugs and alcohol. Spear occasionally joins teammates visit Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital to raise spirits of ailing youngsters. Finally, he has participated in mission trips to Mexico, Haiti and Peru as a Vanderbilt student.
Spear also is a high-achieving student, on schedule to graduate in May 14 with a degree in Human and Organizational Development. He is also a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
