Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2017
- Class:
- 2009
Weatherspoon was one of the top linebackers in Mizzou history who was serenaded by the Tiger faithful at games with the chant of “Spoooooooon” whenever he made a play. He was a two-time second-team all-American (2008, 2009) and was also a three-time first-team all-Big 12 Conference selection (2007-09). He was a Butkus Award finalist honors as a senior when he led the team with 111 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a team captain. Spoon was a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons, with the No. 19 overall selection, becoming the first Tiger linebacker to be a first-round pick. He was also the first Tiger linebacker drafted in any round since Bobby Bell in 1984 (4th-round). He posted eye-popping numbers as a junior that put him on the national radar, with 155 tackles (second-most in MU history), including 18.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and three interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns) in 2008. He closed that season by earning Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP honors after he made 17 tackles and helped lead the Tigers to an overtime win over Northwestern to close out a 10-win season. He emerged as a sophomore when he started all 14 games for Mizzou’s Big 12 North champs, and finished with a team-best 130 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He finished his career with 413 tackles, which ranks third on the Mizzou career chart. He played eight years in the NFL with the Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals and made 329 tackles, with eight sacks and two pass interceptions.
