Shawntae Spencer life and biography

A physical and quick cornerback, Shawntae Spencer provides the 49ers with a smooth and steady playmaker in the defensive backfield. Spencer was named the start­ing left cornerback after training camp in 2009, regularly drawing the op­posing team’s top receiver, after having been limited the previous two years due to injury.

TRANSACTIONS

Originally the second of two 2nd-round (58th pick overall) draft choice by SF in 2004.

•Shawntae was originally a big fan of baseball as a kid, but after getting his first taste of football, he couldn’t resist the urge to play the sport. “Growing up in Pittsburgh, football is where it’s at,” he said. “My first love was base­ball, but I got to high school and saw that all of the excitement was at the football games. There were 10,000 plus fans every Friday night, and when you are in high school, you want to be in that spotlight.”

AWARDS & HONORS:
2008: Ed Block Courage Award winner

2009:
•Led team with a career-high 17 PDs.
•Helped limit Arizona WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to just 90 yds. receiving at Arz. (9/13) in his first start since sustaining a season-ending knee injury during the 2008 season.
•Picked off QB Brett Favre on a tip by S Dashon Goldson at Min. (9/27).
•Helped limit WR Andre Johnson to 62 yds. receiving on 2 recepts. at Hou. (10/25).
•Tallied 8 tackles and 2 PDs at Ind. (11/1).
•Registered 9 tackles and a PD at GB (11/22).
•Held QB Kurt Warner to a season-low 178 passing yds. and a 44.9 QB rating vs. Arz. (12/14), marking the first time Warner hadn’t thrown a TD pass dur­ing the season.
•Intercepted QB Donovan McNabb in the endzone at Phi. (12/20).

2008:
•Posted 2 tackles and 2 special teams stops vs. Arz. (9/7).
•Saw action in nickel package at Sea. (9/14) before leaving game with a knee injury.
•Underwent knee surgery (9/23) and was placed on IR (10/16).

2007:
•Served primarily as team’s nickel back.
•In season-opener on Monday Night Football vs. Arz. (9/10), recorded 3 tack­les and intercepted a QB Matt Leinart pass late in 4th qtr., sealing a 20-17 victory with 16 seconds left.
•Started at Atl. (11/4) in place of CB Walt Harris (knee) and recorded 4 tackles.
•Sidelined for final 5 contests of season with a quad injury suffered at Arz. (11/25).

2006:
•Ranked 4th on team with 74 tackles at left cornerback
•Tallied 3 tackles, 1 PD, 1 sack and 1 FF at Det. (11/12). Forced QB Jon Kitna to fumble on a sack, which was recovered by DE Marques Douglas.
•Returned to starting lineup at Sea. (12/14) and tallied 8 tackles, 1 PD and 1 INT.

2005:
•Posted career-highs in tackles (76), PDs (14) and INTs (4) at right corner­back
•Recorded a career-high 4 PDs, which included an INT of QB Steve McNair that he returned 61 yds. for first career TD at Ten. (11/27).
•Hauled in team-leading 4th INT early in 4th qtr. to go along with 5 tackles at StL (12/24).

2004:
•Had a team-high 12 PDs (3rd among NFL rookie CBs).
•Saw action in first career game vs. Atl. (9/12), recording 4 tackles and 1 PD.
•Recorded first career start at RCB, registering 6 tackles and 2 PDs at Sea. (9/26).
•Notched a career-high 10 tackles at Arz. (12/12).

COLLEGE

•Competed in 48 games, totaling 203 tackles, 4 FFs, 4 FRs, 8 INTs and a school record 53 PDs. Named “Chairman of the Board” by coaching staff for dedication and leadership (2nd consecutive year he received this honor) as a senior. Started every game at left cornerback, ranking 3rd on team with a career-high 82 tackles to go along with 2 INTs, 10 PDs, 2 FF and 2 FRs. Played in every game as a junior, starting at left cornerback. Totaled 51 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 FRs, 1 FF and 10 PDs. Played in every game during sophomore campaign, leading Big East Conference and tying school record with 17 PDs. Freshman All-America selection as he played in every game, starting 8 contests and recording 45 tackles, 2 INTs and a team-high 15 PDs.

PERSONAL

•Prepped at Woodland Hills (PA) HS, where he helped team to a 22-4 record over his final 2 seasons, including a 13-1 mark in 1999 and a 9-3 record in 1998.
•Began senior year in secondary, but moved to starting quarterback later in year. Rushed 43 times for 154 yds. with 4 TDs, completed 30 of 77 passes for 543 yds. with 5 TDs, and recorded 56 tackles, 3 INTs and 1 FR on de­fense.
•Also lettered twice in track, finishing 2nd in WPIAL and 6th at state champi­onships in long jump as junior.
•Born Shawntae Spencer (2/22/82) in Rankin, PA.
•Majored in economics.

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