Rams rookie Spruce living with parents while NFL debut looms

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

kurtfaulk

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Sep 7, 2011
Messages
15,968
Rams rookie Spruce living with parents while NFL debut looms


GREG BEACHAM (AP Sports Writer)•Sep 22, 2016, 9:53 AM


201609211849677645709

In this June 14, 2016, photo, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Nelson Spruce is seen during NFL football practice in Oxnard, Calif. Spruce laughs at the realization he's just another one of those millennials who moved back in with his parents after college. The rookie receiver is simply taking advantage of convenient geography while he tries to get started in his dream career. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) -- Nelson Spruce laughs at the realization he's just another one of those millennials who moved back in with his parents after college.

The Los Angeles Rams' rookie receiver is simply taking advantage of convenient geography while he tries to get started in his dream career.

''It's been like I'm back in high school,'' Spruce said. ''I wake up in the morning, say goodbye to my parents and drive over here. Go home, get home-cooked meals. It's been kind of surreal.''

Spruce grew up in Westlake Village, California, a few minutes from the Rams' brand-new headquarters in the far-flung LA suburbs. The complex is built on what was a quiet, unused corner of California Lutheran University's campus when Spruce left his folks' house for Colorado five years ago.

''They love having me home,'' Spruce said. ''Sometimes the tough part is I come over after a 12-hour day of football, and all they want to do is talk about more football, so I've kind of got to put up with that. But it's awesome to be back home.''

Spruce already accomplished something remarkable by making the Rams' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent despite playing in just one preseason game due to a sprained knee. He's used to exceeding expectations, too: The lightly recruited prospect became the most prolific receiver in Pac-12 history with the Buffaloes.

Spruce and fellow injured rookie receiver Pharoh Cooper practiced with the Rams (1-1) this week, and both should be ready to make their NFL debuts soon, perhaps even Sunday at Tampa Bay.

''How it affects the offense, I can't tell you,'' coach Jeff Fisher said. ''They're both rookies. They haven't had a regular-season snap yet, but they both have promising futures and showed that they can make plays in the NFL early in the preseason.''

Two talented rookies could only help: The Rams' offense was the league's worst last season, and it has been the NFL's worst again this season, failing to score a touchdown in the first two games.

Spruce sprained his knee in the preseason opener against Dallas, but only after making a team-best six catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. His effort included a highlight-reel catch over the middle.

The performance only confirmed what the Rams suspected about Spruce, who makes up for any perceived deficiencies in athletic ability with technique and tenacity. Los Angeles was sold enough on Spruce to keep him on the active roster with an injury that has kept him out for a month.

''It was a weight off my shoulders, just because I've worked for this opportunity my whole life, and then I (only) had that quarter and a half to really make my mark,'' Spruce said. ''To have that valuable time cut short by injury put a lot of stress on me, so once I got that good news, I felt like a new man.''

Spruce made Pac-12 history with 294 catches during four losing seasons at Colorado, breaking the league's career record last Halloween at the Rose Bowl. Spruce's average sprint times at the combine apparently dissuaded the league from drafting him, but the Rams - the only team to host him for a private pre-draft workout - won the competition for his services afterward.

Spruce had another strong connection with the Rams: Jared Goff and Spruce share representation, and they trained together for four months before the draft. Before training camp, they also spent dozens of hours throwing and catching in a small group of Rams at Westlake High School, Spruce's alma mater.

Spruce was an all-league infielder and a .400 hitter at Westlake High before dropping the sport as a senior, and he partly credits his catching skills to the hand-eye coordination learned in baseball.

He hadn't lived at home since the day after he graduated from high school, moving straight to Boulder after removing his cap and gown.

''It's been really convenient not having to look for a place to live, not needing to get familiar with the area,'' Spruce said. ''It's just taken that stress out of my life and helped me focus on what we're doing here.''

A few indignities aside, Spruce is grateful to be back under his parents' roof - rent-free, no less.

''They're not charging,'' he said with a laugh. ''As long as I give them a couple of tickets every week.''

---

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rams-rookie-spruce-living-parents-while-nfl-debut-232551664--nfl.html
 

UKram

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
3,369
cant wait for Spruce Coop and Higs to get integrated into the passing game
 

ausmurp

Starter
Joined
Aug 15, 2013
Messages
569
I'm excited too. He looked the part in preseason. Could be an Anquan Boldin type WR for us and we've needed that for a loooooooooooooong time. Hope he stays healthy and makes plays.
 

Psycho_X

Legend
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
11,146
I'm excited too. He looked the part in preseason. Could be an Anquan Boldin type WR for us and we've needed that for a loooooooooooooong time. Hope he stays healthy and makes plays.

Boldin would be nice, I was looking at him being more of a Ricky Proehl or Dane Looker type. Someone who won't necessarily get you a 1000 yards receiving most years but will be mr. reliable when you need him to make a catch and move the chains. In a perfect world I see Cooper being our dynamic playmaker with Spruce playing cleanup when needed.
 

wolfdogg

Hall of Fame
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,965
Name
wolfdogg
This is good. Home cooked meals. No late nights with strippers coming over. Plus, you know he's doing all the studying, rehabing, and is muy focused on the playbook so he can get the hell out of there - no offense to the parents.
 

LACHAMP46

A snazzy title
Joined
Jul 21, 2013
Messages
11,735
Smart man.....save yer money SPRUCE!!!!!!

Will he play this week? Will Cooper? I knew that brace was a bad sign in camp...curious what the hell was the problem with the knee? Wonder will it get scoped in the off-season????
 

UKram

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
3,369
Smart man.....save yer money SPRUCE!!!!!!

Will he play this week? Will Cooper? I knew that brace was a bad sign in camp...curious what the hell was the problem with the knee? Wonder will it get scoped in the off-season????

Maybe they were just being extra cautious with spruce make sure he was 100% fit and ready to go ...he isn't out number one guy so no need to rush him maybe
 

LACHAMP46

A snazzy title
Joined
Jul 21, 2013
Messages
11,735
Maybe they were just being extra cautious with spruce make sure he was 100% fit and ready to go ...he isn't out number one guy so no need to rush him maybe
Have you seen our offensive numbers....extra cautious? Man we need every available body that can help us win...hell, use him as a decoy...
 

yrba1

Mild-mannered Rams fan
Joined
Jul 8, 2014
Messages
5,087
He'll definitely complement us in the short passing game. The other receivers haven't done so thus far.