#BestOfThe2000s: Nick Speegle

@UNMLoboFB on Twitter

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Nick Speegle went from no scholarship offers (other than UNM of course) to an NFL career, showcasing a true underdog spirit.  He showcased it again to be named the fourth and final linebacker voted to the Lobo Football #BestOfThe2000s team by the fans, joining Dallas Bollema, Dakota Cox and Carmen Messina.  Speegle was voted in by the slimmest margin yet in the fan voting, which will see 29 players in all voted to the team, 12 on offense, 12 on defense, four on special teams and one all-purpose player..

Speegle picked up 41.5% of the vote, nipping Alex Hart (39.4%) in the closest voting yet.  Speegle had previously finished second to Messina in a close vote, and that advanced him to the final round of voting.  Zach Arnett, who UNM will see as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator, finished third with 14.8% of the vote, and Charles Moss was fourth at 4.2%.  Overall 236 votes were cast in the fourth linebacker poll, and Speegle topped Hart by just five votes.

The series is a way to engage Lobo fans with the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

In the closest voting yet, Nick Speegle, who was second in our third poll, wins the final LB slot in the #BestOfThe2000s fan poll! Congrats to @SpeegleChiro for joining Dallas Bollema, Dakota Cox and Carmen Messina! What an LB crew!!! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/Gzt7Z2cfSl

— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) March 25, 2020

Speegle played from 2001-04, a time when Lobo Football was hitting its stride under head coach Rocky Long.  His 317 tackles still had him ranked 16th on the career UNM tackles list, and that total has been topped just twice in the last 15 years, both times by fellow #BestOfThe2000s linebackers Messina and Cox.  His 38.5 tackles for loss ranks seventh in school history.  He was a 2001 Freshman All-America selection, and he was a four-time Mountain West Academic All-Conference selection as well as a First Team All-Mountain West pick as a senior.

He was the 2004 Colonel H.J. Golightly Defensive Player of the Year as a team captain that year. For his career, he racked up 454 tackles, 30.0 TFLs including 9.0 sacks, two interceptions and six forced fumbles.  In 2004 he earned Mountain West Player of the Week honors for his play against Colorado State.

#BestOfThe2000s Team (Selected by the Fans)