From Vype magazine:

Spencer Neumann hasn’t always had a passion for football. He favored basketball and didn’t play football until the sixth grade. It was two years later he started to develop the physicality that is now his trademark.

“I wasn’t really hard-nosed until the eighth grade,” he said. “It just kind of clicked and worked on the football field.”

Neumann (6-0, 195) gave up basketball for good after junior high and immediately made an impact for the Panthers earning all-state honors with more than 100 tackles as a sophomore. Last season, he racked up 114 tackles 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks, earning his second straight all-state selection.

“Not a lot of kids get to do that, especially at Cabot,” Neumann said. “I appreciate it now, but I’ll appreciate it even more down the road.”

Neumann ranks No. 14 in the Fox 16/VYPE Top 16 Central Arkansas football players’ countdown.

By the time Neumann entered junior high he learned what coach Mike Malham expects from his players. Neumann plays with an abandon that Panthers alumni would be proud of.
 
“I definitely like to hit,” Neumann said. “Basically, if you come through Cabot you have to be a hard-nosed football player. That’s what Coach Malham expects, so if you want to play for him that is what you have to do. I definitely like to think I am that.”

Neumann (300-pound bench press, 4.6 speed) credits his sure tackling with mental toughness as much as his toughness.

“It’s my ability to focus in practice and pay attention to watch what the coach is trying to teach us,” Neumann said. “Plus, I played basketball for a long time and that seems to help my footwork and everything.”

Neumann’s role expands even more this season. He worked at fullback in the spring and Malham planned to use him in the same backfield with star Michael James. James hurt his shoulder the first week of practice. James should be back for the opener, but Neumann is ready to carry the ball more if needed.

“Obviously it is going to be hard to get in shape for it, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Neumann said. “The more time you can be on the field, the better.”

Neumann has been driven this summer by last season’s 21-17 upset playoff loss to Springdale Har-Ber. Cabot has bowed out in the playoffs to Har-Ber the past two years.

“We have got to play better in the playoffs,” Neumann said. “We played good in the playoffs, but I’m not sure what happened last year.”

The future is also on Neumann’s mind. He is going to miss “the Cabot atmosphere” but anticipates college football. He already has an offer from Central Arkansas.

“I’m not going to commit right now. I’m going to keep my options open and see if anyone else offers,” Neumann said. “But, I definitely like UCA a whole bunch.”