BIOGRAPHY
Akeem Spence was born on November 29, 1991, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He is a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins in the NFL.
Spence was born in Navarre, Florida. He attended Fort Walton Beach High School, and played for the Fort Walton Beach Vikings high school football team. He recorded 80 tackles and five sacks as a senior and helped lead team to a 10-2 record and district championship. Posted 67 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2007 as a junior. Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he accepted an athletic scholarship from the University of Illinois over offers from Iowa State and Syracuse.
Spence attended the University of Illinois and majored in communications. He was 3-year starter (2010-12). As a junior, he started all 12 games; 72 tackles (32 solo), 1 sack and 1 forced fumble. He was also awarded All-Big Ten honorable mention. As a sophomore, he started all 13 games; 69 tackles (18 solo), 1.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble. As a freshman, he started all 13 games; 45 tackles (15 solo) and 1 sack and was awarded 1st-team Freshman All-American.
On April 27, 2013, Spence was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round (100th overall pick) of the 2013 NFL Draft. The Buccaneers signed him to a rookie contract on May 15, 2013. Spence signed his contract on May 15, 2013, a four-year deal that’s worth $2,644,424. Spence collected a $484,424 signing bonus.
On March 10, 2017, Spence signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Detroit Lions. He started 11 games during the 2017 season, recording 39 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. Spence was named the 2017 recipient of the Detroit Lions Media-Friendly Good Guy Award by the Detroit chapter of the PFWA and Detroit Sports Media. On May 3, 2018, Spence was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional 2019 seventh round pick, previously acquired from the Browns in a trade for Jarvis Landry.
On November 21, 2020, the New England Patriots signed Spence to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on November 28 for the team's week 12 game against the Arizona Cardinals, and reverted to the practice squad after the game. On December 5, 2020, Spence was promoted to the active roster.
