Career Summary

Keveion’ta Spears progressed from a Baton Rouge high-school prospect through three college programs before entering Arizona’s 2026 preseason.

Spears attended McKinley High School in Baton Rouge and developed from a three-star strong-side defensive-end prospect into a college defensive lineman.

He played at Louisiana Tech, Memphis and SMU, appearing in 45 college games before signing with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on August 15, 2026.

Section reviewed 2026-09-11

Early Life

Born December 16, 2000, Spears grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he attended McKinley High School.

Louisiana Tech’s biography lists Baton Rouge as Spears’ hometown and “Shaq” as his nickname. He also earned a basketball letter at McKinley.

Section reviewed 2026-09-11

High School

At McKinley, Spears played outside linebacker and tight end before developing into a three-star strong-side defensive-end recruit.

Spears graduated from McKinley High School in 2020. His high-school roles included outside linebacker and tight end, while 247Sports rated him as a three-star strong-side defensive-end prospect.

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College Career

Spears played four seasons across Louisiana Tech, Memphis and SMU, finishing with 45 appearances and 44 documented tackles.

At Louisiana Tech, he did not play in 2020 or 2021, then appeared in all 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2022, making one start and recording 10 tackles. He transferred to Memphis, where he played all 13 games in 2023, started eight, and posted 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. His first collegiate sack came against Missouri on September 23, 2023.

Spears played in 11 Memphis games in 2024 and recorded three tackles. He completed his college career at SMU in 2025, appearing in all 13 games with two starts and finishing with 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and one quarterback hurry. Memphis announced him among its fall 2024 graduates with a degree in management.

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Path to the NFL

After completing his SMU season in 2025, Spears entered the 2026 professional cycle and signed with Arizona as an undrafted free agent.

The Cardinals signed Spears on August 15, 2026. Arizona listed him as a defensive lineman wearing No. 60 and measuring 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds.

The supplied research does not document a draft round, overall selection, combine invitation or specific pre-draft workout result.

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NFL Career

Spears joined Arizona during the 2026 preseason, with no regular-season statistics recorded through the September 11 cutoff.

Arizona’s transaction page records Spears’ August 15, 2026 signing, and preseason coverage showed him wearing No. 60 during the Cardinals’ August 22 game against Dallas. The supplied statistical record lists zero NFL regular-season statistics through September 11, 2026.

His status on that date remains unresolved: Arizona’s roster and depth chart listed him as an active defensive lineman, while a third-party transaction log reported an August 30 release.

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Career Accomplishments

Spears’ principal documented college milestones include 45 appearances, eight Memphis starts in 2023 and a three-program career.

He appeared in all 12 Louisiana Tech games in 2022 and all 13 Memphis games in 2023. His eight Memphis starts in 2023 were his highest documented single-season total, and that season also produced his most notable statistical line: 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Spears completed a five-season college timeline spanning Louisiana Tech, Memphis and SMU, with game appearances in four seasons. No major all-conference, All-American or team award is documented in the supplied player-specific research.

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Playing Style

Spears’ documented development moved from high-school outside linebacker and tight end into a defensive-line role across three college programs.

His college statistics portray a defensive-line contributor who recorded tackles, occasional backfield disruption and pass breakups. His highest documented production came at Memphis in 2023, when he registered two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.

The description reflects his recorded college statistics rather than an attributed scouting evaluation. High-school position changes do not by themselves establish demonstrated versatility at the professional level.

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Legacy

Spears’ documented college significance rests on a three-program progression and his most productive season as an eight-game starter at Memphis.

His path from Louisiana Tech to Memphis and then SMU reflects a five-season college timeline with game appearances in four seasons. At Memphis in 2023, he made eight starts and recorded his highest documented single-season totals in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks.

The supplied research does not support attributing a school record, major individual award or all-conference honor to Spears.

Section reviewed 2026-09-11