2021 NFL Draft: Northern Iowa's Spencer Brown selected by Bills in third round

Spencer Brown was a star on the Lenox High School football team. He punted, caught passes, blocked, tackled and anything else his team needed.

The only thing he couldn’t seem to do? Catch the attention of big college programs. 

Now people are noticing him. 

Brown, who was overlooked in high school and went on to be a star at Northern Iowa, was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills on Friday. 

The 6-foot-9, 313-pound offensive lineman generated only a handful of scholarship offers — none from any true heavy hitters. He came to Northern Iowa as a tight end but transitioned into the offensive line. Brown shined there as a three-year starter and a second-team All-Missouri Valley selection in 2019. He started 28 of the 29 games of his sophomore and junior seasons including the last 18 of his career. 

There were high hopes for his senior season. Brown, a preseason All-American, opted out of Northern Iowa’s football season after it got moved to the spring. He could have transferred to a Power 5 school but instead stayed at Northern Iowa and began training for the NFL Draft. 

PREVIOUSLY: Why Iowa native Spencer Brown stayed loyal to Northern Iowa

It was a risky move. Brown could have improved his draft stock with a strong showing in his final season. But the decision paid off. Brown earned an invite to the Senior Bowl, turned in an impressive showing and shot up draft boards. 

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.