Spenser Thompson-Meyers ’19, Green Knight kicker and NFL prospect

Just for Kicks

by Hannah O'Brien

Spenser Thompson-Meyers ’19 has always had his sights set on the big leagues. First, his dream was to play professional baseball. Then he changed his focus to soccer. Then he found himself playing football at St. Norbert College – where he recently landed an invite to the Cleveland Browns’ rookie mini-camp.

Thompson-Meyers headed to Ohio in May after being scouted by some eight NFL teams in April. “It’s been exciting,” Thompson-Meyers told local ABC affiliate WBAY-TV. “I have just been taking it all in and enjoying the process. It’s a luxury and a privilege just to be going through this, to even be considered by the NFL.”

As a Green Knight, Thompson-Meyers kicked a 55-yard field goal, tying the Midwest Conference record. He’s the only kicker in conference history with two 50-plus-yard field goals. He finished his college career with 38 made field goals and 176 point-after conversions – both SNC records. In practice, he was able to kick field goals from 60 to 65 yards out.

“This conference has never seen a talent like Spenser as a kicker,” says Bob DeKeyser, special teams coordinator.

Thompson-Meyers is a two-time first-team All-American and a four-time first-team All-Midwest Conference selection.

“[Playing professionally] was always in the back of my mind,” says Thompson-Meyers. “It’s always a goal I’ve been striving for. But I mean, when it came down to it, I was just looking to do as good as I can in my college career and then everything beyond that would just figure itself out.”

Ironman on the Ice
Green Knight hockey forward Steven Phillips ’19 joins Spenser Thompson-Meyers ’19 in the national spotlight this year. But the focus on Phillips was as much about endurance as flair. When Phillips laced up his skates for his 120th match with the Green Knights, he smashed the NCAA Division III record for consecutive games played. Phillips never missed a game during his college career, netting 123 consecutive games played.

“It’s impressive,” said Coach Tim Coghlin at the end of the season. “You know, an ironman streak, where you’re playing game after game after game. You know he’s dinged up. You know he is hurt. And he continues to show up.”

The previous national record of 119 consecutive games played was set in 2014.

July 1, 2019