25 Tigers to watch: 9 Adam Spieker
The Missouri Tigers open camp on August 4th, which is now just nine days away. Over these 25 days, PowerMizzou.com is counting down the 25 players on the roster who will be most influential in determining just how good the Tigers are this season. To be clear, this is not a list of the 25 best players on the roster. It is not a list of the players that will have the biggest seasons or put up the best numbers. In reverse order, we are counting down the 25 players who we think could have the most influence on the outcome of the 12 games on Missouri's 2007 schedule.
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9. Adam Spieker
The vitals: Adam Spieker will once again anchor the Tigers' offensive line from the center spot. Spieker is entering his fourth season as a starter and should be a candidate for post-season awards if the Tigers can put up big numbers.
Career so far: Spieker was a freshman all-American in 2004. Each of the last two seasons, he has garnered honorable mention all-Big 12 honors. Spieker has started every game of his Tiger career. If he starts 13 this season, he will surpass Brad Smith for the most starts by a single player in Missouri history.
Why he's on the list: Everything starts with the center. He is one of two players guaranteed to touch the ball on every single offensive snap. In addition, Spieker is the most experienced lineman on the team. It is his responsibility not only to get the ball to Chase Daniel, but to make sure the other four linemen know what they're doing to protect the signal caller. Spieker has had a solid, if not spectacular, career. He will have to lead this offensive line in a year where it is expected to pave the way for a record-setting season.
The rest of the list so far: