After joining Syracuse’s football team as a freshman in 2010, Marquis Spruill became a player. There was no time to ease in and the freshman started all 13 games for the Orange at outside linebacker and continued to start until his career ended this year as a senior. He joins the Falcons as an inside linebacker currently, but his time at Syracuse helped him develop the skills to play inside or outside linebacker.
As a sophomore, Spruill moved inside, but went back outside as a junior. As a team captain and a senior in 2013, he once again moved inside and wrapped up a career as a pursuing linebacker with 41 tackles for loss, second-most in school history.
Spruill is billed as a hard-hitter that can get to the ball quickly. The Falcons have given their defense a facelift during the offseason and the fifth-round pick figures to have a shot in 3-4 and 4-3 looks for the Falcons on defense.
“I’m young, I love to play, run and hit,” Spruill said about the role he’ll play for the Falcons.