Tyler Spencer...Remember the name

Brien Mitchum

From the Press Box Report

This off season the Fort Wayne Wolverines have held a few tryout sessions to add some new players to the team, but they don’t just add anyone you must show that you have what it takes to be a Wolverine, you must be able to show that you believe in what the Wolverines are trying to accomplish and that is what Tyler Spencer has shown to the coaching staff of the Fort Wayne Wolverines.

Born and raised in a small town in Indiana called Logansport, Tyler has always been an active kid, “Watching him play Tball, Baseball, Football basketball and Track growing up, he always gave 110% in the sport he was participating in.” Tyler’s mom Stacey remembers when he was younger at age 4 playing T-ball no-front teeth (that’s for another story), “I remember a time when I was videoing him, he smacks the ball, takes off running around all the bases gets to 3rd and stops, while standing on the base he starts towards me, as I am telling him to get back on the bag, in that little boy’s voice he says “I got to pee.” Sorry Tyler I had to put that in the write up…

“As he got older and into Highschool he could play any position he was always focused.” But deep-down Tyler had always loved Football, but his talents would go unnoticed in Highschool, that frustrated Tyler no matter how hard he worked to get approval of the coaches, his last name was just not up to some of the other boys on the team.

Tyler didn’t start playing football until he was older “I started playing for the Cass County Browns. From the start I knew I’d like this sport.” Showing that he could play, the coaches would see that, “I quickly became the youngest player to start at the time.” As the years passed and Tyler entered Middle and Highschool he would never lose sight on Football, “I never lost sight on Football but lost my interest due to not playing and always being told I was to small and never able to contribute to the team.” Tyler used that and other reasons for motivation to not just improve at Football but also the way he looked at the game. “I never played a down in Highschool but in the middle school, I ran for 72 yards to put my team on the 1-yard line for a touchdown the next play.” But growing up in small town and playing sports is not always as it seems, sometimes it is about what your last name is or what your parents do for a living. “After that I sat and watched everyone else get their turn. I didn’t have the right last name and my parents were not lawyers or anyone special to society, so the kids that had a last name or parents were well known did.”

But those things fueled Tyler to not give up, and to this day he hasn’t and with those who tell you are not good enough, you prove them wrong ” I am thankful for the people who told me I wasn’t good enough because it has motivated me big time.” Instead of playing Football Tyler decided to run track his last year of Highschool, and that paid off ” I got a scholarship to University of Vincennes, I went there for a year until I had to come home and help take care of my dad, who had got hit be a tree, when this happened my buddy and a group of friends started playing back yard Football eventually, we made a league out of it and I gained my confidence back from that.” Tylers mom Stacey remembers back on Tylers senior year running track, sitting in the stands watching his 50-dash event and another parent asking his wife “Who’s that kid?” that made her giggle, and he was the fastest on Logansport’s track team.

Since that time Tyler has played for the Miami County Blitz for one season, and he played for the Indianapolis Enforcers in the 20-21 season, but not only does he love the sport of Football, but he is a great teammate and has a big heart, and now that he has a daughter Brynlynn who will be the big 3 years old in April, transitioning into that dad role to not only his daughter but his stepson Lincoln, constantly working to make sure not only he takes care of his family but making sure that Football will pay off for him and his family. ” He does have a lot going on constantly and he’s really working his butt off to try and make sure Football comes through for him, between me, my son and his daughter and trying to take care of all of us, but he always manages to make sure he gets the things done for himself he’s definitely a hard worker.” Lanie-Tyler’s Girlfriend

Now Tyler is on a new Football journey one that he hopes will be his forever Football home and that is with the Fort Wayne Wolverines “They seem to have their organization in order and are great people to be around, I am thankful to have been picked up on the team and to go to Miami, Florida for a national championship and I am ready to go down with the team and bring back a title, this does not complete my journey though, I want to stay and contribute to this team until I can’t anymore. “ This type of mental attitude and outlook is what the Wolverines look for in not only veterans of the team but new players coming into the organization as well. ” I love this sport and they are giving me an opportunity of a lifetime and I am grateful for that.”

Tyler brings something to the team that will not only help him succeed but will be a big asset to his teammates, that was the year he had spent playing arena football with the Indianapolis Enforcers, “I only played one year with the Enforcers. That type of play was fast paced and very good competition. I feel with the knowledge that I’ve learned over the years playing has made me ready for this opportunity with the Wolverines in this game, I have the experience and knowledge and that alone is something to give to a team that sees potential in you.”

And that potential is for sure noticed by the coaches of the Wolverines they see something in Tyler that made them sign him, they see he has what it takes to be a Wolverine, “Tyler is going to be a great asset to this team he’s a route runner and is able to find a hole in any defense just using his knowledge of Football.” -Coach Quintin “Q” Washington

The future is bright not only for Tyler Spencer but for the Fort Wayne Wolverines with him being added to the roster, we look forward to many moments to talk about for both Tyler and the team and we are confident that it will happen in the next chapter of their stories. If you are a fan of the Wolverines and want to follow them to Miami and help cheer them on February 20th 2022 at Tropical Park as they take on the Woodland Tigers for the NAFT 2A National Championship the team would love to have you there live and in person, but if you cannot be there in person and only in spirit, but want to help them get to Miami feel free to reach out and visit the team website at http://www.fwwolverines.net to see how you can help.