BHHS Alumnus Spencer Paysinger Enjoying 'Super' Season

Back when the 2011-12 National Football League season began in September, Spencer Paysinger probably didn't envision playing in the Super Bowl. His goal was simply to play football.

Now he's participating in the premiere annual one-day sporting event in North America, despite starting the year as an undrafted rookie free agent. The alumnus is an outside linebacker for the New York Giants, who take on the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday (kickoff at approximately 3:30 p.m. PT).

The Paysinger name is a familiar one in Beverly Hills. Spencer played for the Normans under his uncle Carter, who was head football coach from 1990 to 2009. Carter turned the program over to Donald Paysinger, his younger brother and Spencer's father, to become the BHHS vice principal and then principal.

At 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, Paysinger considered other teams—like St. Louis, Dallas, Denver and Arizona—but felt the Giants organization gave him the best opportunity to play this season. In retrospect, it was a wise decision.  

The 23-year-old Paysinger, who earned Honorable Mention in the Pac-10 after making 76 tackles his senior season at the University of Oregon, has 12 tackles this season (11 solo, one assisted), including one in the Giants' 20-17 overtime victory at San Francisco two weeks ago in the NFC Championship game. He had a season-high three tackles in New York's 17-10 loss to Philadelphia on Nov. 20, and two tackles in both the Nov. 13 loss to San Francisco and the 29-14 win against the New York Jets on Dec. 24. 

Playing wide receiver for his uncle Carter at BHHS, Spencer had 54 catches for an Ocean League-best 1,093 yards and 10 touchdowns with All-CIF first-team and league MVP honors as a senior in 2005. On defense, he had 87 tackles (53 unassisted), two sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery, leading the Normans to an undefeated regular season.

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