Interview with Louisiana Airline High School DT Ivory Spratley
Playing college football is a dream for thousands of high school athletes all over the country. However there are not many who are willing to work as hard at multiple positions as Ivory Spratley to make that dream a reality.
Spratley is 6’0”, 240 pounds, and just finished his junior year at Airline High School in Bossier City, Louisiana. The soon to-be senior has played significant time at four different positions including fullback, defensive tackle, defensive end, and linebacker. In 2014, Spratley played mostly fullback however in 2015 he will be one of Airline’s defensive tackles hoping to help change the Vikings 4-7 campaign last year into a playoff caliber team this year.
The Class of 2016 recruit has received recruiting interest from many schools including Stanford and Baylor. Some schools are recruiting Spratley as a linebacker while others are recruiting him to play fullback.
In an exclusive Recruiting News Guru interview, we sat down with Ivory to discuss his high school career and his recruiting process.
Ivory, looking back at the 2014 season what are your thoughts on last year’s season and how it ended?
“We had a young team and a lot of fresh people coming in. We were disappointed because we lost in the first round of the playoffs.”
What are your thoughts on your individual performance last year?
“I got the objective done at fullback.”
This year you will be a starting defensive tackle. When was the last time you played that position?
“I played defensive tackle in my sophomore year.”
What do you like about playing defensive tackle?
“It’s up close and one-on-one. I like how it’s just you and the person in front of you. You affect their performance.”
What are your strengths on the field?
“My speed, awareness, footwork, and the use of my hands.”
What camps have you attended?
“Louisiana Tech, LSU, and Baylor in the summer of 2014.”
What camps will you attend this summer?
“Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Baylor, Southern Miss, and Tulane.”
What are you working on the most this offseason?
“Just getting bigger and stronger. Also I want maintain my footwork.”
What schools are showing you interest at this time?
“Stanford, Baylor, Arkansas State, Northern Arizona, Holy Cross, and Brown. Holy Cross, Brown and Northern Arizona are doing the most recruiting.”
What type of feedback have you received from these schools?
“At fullback, they just want me to finish the play out.”
Looking ahead to the 2015 season what game are you most looking forward to on the schedule?
“Union Parish in week one. The games against Byrd, Haughton, and Union Parish are the ones I see competition in.”
How does Airline look going into the 2015 season?
“We have developed as a whole. We have grown together as a team and there is a tighter relationship so that should be good.”
How did you do in your spring game on May 18 against North Webster?
“I had two sacks, eight tackles, and a fumble recovery.”
What motivates you to give 100 percent effort on the football field?
“My teammates. We are in it together and everyone needs to go 100 percent.”
Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?
“My dad (Horace Spratley – Kansas State), he’s played college ball and he knows the path of it and what to expect.”
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Photo credit: Horace Spratley; No. 42 Ivory Spratley