Highlights & Evaluation: Louisville DL Signee William 'Woo' Spencer

Louisville Report breaks down 2023 Louisville football defensive line signee William Spencer.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville football program won a key in-state recruiting battle on the traditional signing day, as William "Woo" Spencer opted to commit to and sign with the Cardinals.

Here is Louisville Report's full evaluation:

Prospect: Woo Spencer
Position: Defensive Tackle
Vitals: 6-foot-5, 315 pounds
School: New Albany (Ind.) Senior/Louisville (Ky.) Male
Top Offers: Kentucky, Michigan State, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8861 (502nd)

Woo Spencer's Junior Year Highlights: HERE (Hudl)

Frame: It goes without saying that Spencer is a physically imposing prospect. He brings plenty of size to the table, and is especially well built in his lower body. Has broad shoulders, but wingspan isn't overly impressive based on pictures. Once he gets on campus, he won't have do much in terms of shifting his weight.

Athleticism: For a player of his hulking stature, Spencer is surprisingly athletic. He gets off the ball extremely well for someone his size, and has good closing speed when pursuing ballcarriers. We don't normally mention pursuit angles when talking about interior linemen, but he has enough maneuverability with his size that he doesn't over shoot his target often.

Instincts: Spencer is a fantastic interior bull rusher. He is violent at the point of attack thanks to both his imposing physical nature and how he attacks with his arms, but does also have some solid technique with his arms. The latter part does help him shed blocks fairly quickly, and even if he does get locked up on a block, he will use his relentless motor to drive the offensive lineman into the pocket or into the play. He also can hold his own against the occasional double team. 

Polish: Spencer played mostly on the defensive side of the ball at Male, but regularly played right tackle at New Albany, and he has some potential there. Defensively, he lines up usually over the center or on the inside shoulder of the guard, but has the versatility to be three-technique as well. He is a bit of an awkward runner in the open field, but it doesn't hamper him much, and he still makes a fair amount of chase-down plays on ballcarriers.

Bottom Line: Locking down your backyard on the recruiting trail is always a priority for any school, but it's an even bigger win when you can land a prospect like Spencer. He'll need some coaching, but his size alone could warrant him seeing the field early at Louisville. Then you take into account his versatility, and he has a lot of upside.

(Photo of William Spencer via University of Louisville Athletics)

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