C. J. Spillman

Spillman attended Louisville Central High School. He played running back and defensive back while in high school.{{cite web | title=Marshall Thundering Herd Profile | work=herdzone.cstv.com | url=http://herdzone.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/spillman_cj00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501061425/http://herdzone.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/spillman_cj00.html | archive-date=May 1, 2009 | url-status=dead }} He was an all-state and all-conference selection in his last two years. He also lettered three years in track.

Spillman became a starter at free safety as a sophomore (9 starts), finishing third on the team with 79 tackles. The next year, he started 12 games, leading the team with 131 tackles (3rd overall in Conference USA and 12th in the nation), while receiving second-team All-Conference USA honors. As a senior, he played with shoulder and hand injuries, while registering 71 tackles (fourth on the team). He finished his college career with the most tackles (319) by a safety in school history.

After going unselected in the 2009 NFL draft, Spillman was as an undrafted free agent signed by the San Diego Chargers on April 27.{{Cite web |last=Hanshew |first=Anthony |date=April 27, 2009 |title=Spillman signs with Chargers |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/spillman-signs-with-chargers/article_7ac98063-50c4-52bf-b151-a4b33e0c468a.html |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=The Herald-Dispatch}}{{cite web|work=USATodayHSS.com|url=http://www.usatodayhss.com/louisville/article/former-central-high-star-c-j-spillman-to-play-in-super-bowl-for-49ers--2013301300095|title=Former Central High Star C.J. Spillman to Play in Super Bowl for 49ers|first=Antoinette|last=Konz|date=January 30, 2013|access-date=June 23, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140624032608/http://www.usatodayhss.com/louisville/article/former-central-high-star-c-j-spillman-to-play-in-super-bowl-for-49ers--2013301300095|archive-date=June 24, 2014}} He was waived on October 11, 2010, after struggling with his play on special teams.

FIle:C. J. Spillman - San Francisco vs Green Bay 2012.jpg in 2012]]

The San Francisco 49ers claimed Spillman off waivers on October 12, 2010.{{cite news|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/12/niners-edge-browns-for-cj-spillman/|title=Niners edge Browns for C.J. Spillman|first=Gregg|last=Rosenthal|date=October 12, 2010|access-date=June 23, 2014}} He quickly established himself as a standout in the 49ers' special teams units registering 17 tackles after only playing in 11 games.[http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2013/08/13/c-j-spillman-is-finally-getting-what-he-has-been-pushing-for-a-chance-to-play-safety/ C.J. Spillman is finally getting what he has been pushing for – a chance to play safety] In 2011, he led the team with 19 special teams tackles.

On March 6, 2012, he was signed to a $6 million three-year contract.{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2012 |title=49ers sign C.J. Spillman to 3-year deal |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7653372/cj-spillman-san-francisco-49ers-signs-3-year-extension |access-date=June 23, 2014 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}

At the end of the 2012 season, Spillman and the 49ers appeared in Super Bowl XLVII. He contributed on defense, but the 49ers fell to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–31.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201302030sfo.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=December 2, 2017}}

After playing mainly in goal-line defensive packages, during the 2012 and 2013 preseasons, he had a chance to earn the free safety starting job, but couldn't hold the position. In 2013, he led the team with 19 special teams tackles.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4732768/safety-spillman-agrees-to-deal-with-dallas | title=Spillman agrees to deal with Cowboys | access-date=February 19, 2016| date=August 31, 2014 }}

He was cut on August 30, 2014.

On August 31, 2014, Spillman was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite web | last=MacMahon | first=Tim | title=Spillman agrees to deal with Cowboys | website=ESPN.com | date=2014-09-01 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4732768/safety-spillman-agrees-to-deal-with-dallas | access-date=2024-10-16}} On October 2, it was reported that he was under investigation for sexual assault.{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20141001-cowboys-c.j.-spillman-in-sex-assault-inquiry-no-arrests-charges-in-alleged-incident-at-gaylord-texan.ece |title=New info in sexual assault inquiry involving Cowboys' C.J. Spillman details when offense occurred |first=Clara|last=Cardona|publisher=The Dallas Morning News|date=October 2, 2014|access-date=October 2, 2014}} Although he had a slow start, by the end of the season he was a valuable contributor, finishing third on team with 10 special teams tackles and also saw more time on defense than expected, after backup safety Jeff Heath missed two games because of a thumb injury. In the playoffs, he raised his production, registering three tackles and two forced fumbles in two games. He was not re-signed at the end of the season.

Spillman has two sisters, Cherisse and Claudia. His mother Carrie worked for AT&T for 33 years until she retired in 2009. His father, Claude Spillman Sr., a retired Louisville Police Officer, played football at Western Kentucky University. He has a nephew name Deiondre Coleman who also played football for Marshall University as a walk-on until he transferred to Eastern Kentucky University in 2017 to continue his studies. He maintains his offseason home in San Diego.{{cite web|url=http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/11/49ers-connection-to-drew-brees-and-darren-sproles/|title=49ers connection to Drew Brees and Darren Sproles|publisher=San Francisco Gate|date=January 11, 2012|access-date=January 11, 2012}}

On July 1, 2016, Spillman was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of sexual assault.{{cite web | url=http://www.fox4news.com/news/168206244-story | title=Former Cowboys player C.J. Spillman gets 5 years for rape | publisher=Fox 4 News | access-date=July 1, 2016 | archive-date=July 2, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702143207/http://www.fox4news.com/news/168206244-story | url-status=dead }}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|C. J. Spillman}}

• [http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/spillman_cj00.html Marshall Thundering Herd bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911073841/http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/spillman_cj00.html |date=September 11, 2016 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140903170158/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Spillman-Finds-Stability-in-San-Francisco-/ebcb928e-4bfa-4c5f-b905-b560b4844873 Spillman Finds Stability in San Francisco ]

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Category:1986 births

Category:21st-century American criminals

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Louisville, Kentucky

Category:American sportspeople convicted of crimes

Category:American football safeties

Category:American people convicted of sexual assault

Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football players

Category:Prisoners and detainees of Texas

Category:San Diego Chargers players

Category:San Francisco 49ers players

Category:Dallas Cowboys players

Category:Central High School (Louisville, Kentucky) alumni

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen