Notre Dame Football: Spencer Perry Could Revive Career

After announcing his decision to transfer from Notre Dame football, defensive back, Spencer Perry, could revive his lost career.

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The sophomore-to-be was only a three-star athlete heading to South Bend last year, but expectations were high for the IMG product. No one knows where Spencer Perry will finish his college career, but after failing to impress at Notre Dame, he’ll be looking to revive his career elsewhere.

Although targeted as the prime contender for the Rover position under new defensive coordinator, Mike Elko’s defense, Perry failed to find his place during the first nine of Notre Dame’s 15 spring practices. After taking some snaps after the walk-ons, the 6’2, 209-pound defensive back decided to take his talents elsewhere.

A high school teammate of Tony Jones Jr., Perry, originally from Newnan, GA, finished his high school career at IMG in Florida. After receiving offers from Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Auburn, Florida, and others, Perry first decided to stay in the state and attend Florida.

Ten days after attending Irish Invasion, though, Perry joined the Notre Dame recruiting class of 2016. But after failing to find any traction in his first year, he’s now hoping a new home will hand him new opportunities.

“Thanks to The University of Notre Dame for the opportunity to pursue my education and play football,” Perry wrote. “All the best to my advisors, professors, rector, teammates, coaches and the Fighting Irish fans. At this time, I am electing to transfer and continue my educational goals and football career elsewhere.”

Perry may not be a starter at a school equivalent to Notre Dame, but with a smaller program, he could find himself competing for time. Considered a project coming into South Bend, the 6’2 back was still finding his place in college. As an underdeveloped player, Perry was looked to be a potential linebacker, not skilled enough to play the traditional safety position.

This won’t change in a new program. Perry is undeveloped, particularly as a cover player. With no real speed and lack of big play hands, his chances of staying at safety are slim. In a new system, he could find himself moving to an outside linebacker role and bulking in size.

Put him in a program like FAU, small in size and using former three-star athletes to build their program, and Perry could bloom. In a place where he doesn’t need to become a superstar to start will let him develop while playing.

Perry isn’t headed to a top 25 team and expecting playing time. He’s not skilled enough to compete at big time schools. But he could make noise as a young safety/linebacker option for a school who uses Perry-type players. With the chance, he could use the change of scenery to try and save his career.

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Notre Dame clearly saw something in him. Another team will want Perry, and if he’s smart, he’ll use the change to drop to a smaller D1 school and begin working on playing time. He may not be destined for the NFL, but he could still have a memorable college career.