Missouri State

At MSU: Jacob Spavital is listed at quarterback and punter and figures to compete for a backup job at both positions. He has been hampered by injuries through much of his time at Missouri State, having taken only a handful of snaps, but enters 2007 in his best health in several years. He earned his first varsity letter last year and playing in six games, mostly on special teams. He redshirted in 2004 and took snaps in the Quincy and Southeast Missouri State games two years ago, but did not throw a pass.

Background: A highly-recruited prep, Spavital was a consensus first team all-stater and district player of the year after passing for 1,826 yards and 18 TDs while rushing for 682 yards and 17 more TDs as a senior. His team went 12-1 and was ranked third in the nation his final season at Tulsa Union. In his prep career, Spavital was 26-1 as a starting quarterback and accounted for 52 TDs, over 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. His team won the Class 6A state title his junior year and was ranked second in the nation as he threw for 2,200 yards and 31 TDs. Spavital was selected the preseason No. 1 quarterback in Oklahoma, was voted to the Texas-Oklahoma Oil Bowl and was rated the 16th-best punter in the nation by Rivals.com.

Personal: Jacob Stephen Spavital was born 5/1/85, in Shawnee, Okla., the son of Steve and Tina Spavital. He is majoring in business at MSU.