Weiser’s Spencer to play football at ISU after church mission

Weiser High School senior Brock Spencer signed a letter of intent last week to play football at Idaho State University.

 The standout, multi-sport athlete received an academic scholarship, but will first serve a two-year LDS mission before walking on as a safety for the Bengals.

 “I’ve been there [to visit] a few times and I think it’s a great environment,” Spencer said of the ISU campus. “I like the coaching staff and the players, and I like the offense and defense they run. It’s also how the school is set up; they have a lot of good programs that I’m interested in.”

 The Bengals are already working on turning around a 3-8 overall record following the 2023 season under first-year head coach Cody Hawkins who went 40-0 as a high school quarterback in Boise. He went on to play at the University of Colorado for his dad and former Boise State University head coach Dan Hawkins.

 He has extensive coaching experience, gaining valuable knowledge under the direction of some big names like former Boise State and University of Washington head coach Chris Peterson, who is now a Fox Sports college football analyst, and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer. The hope is that he will use his combination of experience and knowledge to turn the Bengal program around. 

 Part of the effort involves switching to a 3-3-5 defense that should benefit Brock as a safety. It means three defensive linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs. The scheme relies on faster, more athletic players, which caters to Brock’s particular skill set.

 “It’s a different defense that hardly anyone runs,” he said.

 At WHS, Brock was an integral part of both the offensive and defensive schemes. Though recruited by ISU as a defensive player, he may also see time on offense.

 “Yeah, it’s possible, but they told me we’d figure all that out when I get there,” he told the Signal American.

 Before he puts on a Bengal uniform, however, Brock will serve his LDS mission, though he is not sure yet where he will land.

 Whatever the case, football won’t be far from his thoughts.

 “I won’t get to ISU until 2026,” said Brock whose future educational plans involve business. “They start training June 1 or 2 and I’ll probably try to make it for that.”

 If he does, it will be just in time to once again share the field with older brother Brett Spencer who returns from his own mission in Colorado in April. Brett, a quarterback, was recruited to play football for ISU following Weiser’s 2021 3A State Championship season.

 “It will be fun, but he is playing quarterback and I’ll be playing safety, which is a different aspect for us,” Brock said, noting the two of them have historically played together on offense.

 Wherever he is sent for his mission, Brock said he should have time to train in order to stay as close to football shape as possible.

 “Every missionary is required to work out for an hour a day; it’s a pretty new thing they started doing – it’s super cool,” he said. “Then, you get one personal day where you get to play sports or do whatever you want. ‘P-Day’ is usually every Monday.”

 As for time in the gym, Brock said he believes he will have access to a facility.

 “Every area where a missionary goes usually has a gym where they can work out,” he said. “Since Brett is in the United States – he went to Colorado – every single area he’s been to has had a super nice gym, so he’s hoping he’s not in too bad a shape when he gets back.”

 As an LDS missionary, however, you never know where you are going to end up.

 “Yeah, I have a family friend who is in Madagascar, and I guess he uses buckets of sand,” he said chuckling.