Anthony Spencer Anthony E . Spencer II ( born January 23 , 1984 ) is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Purdue University . He was drafted by the Cowboys 26th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft . High school career . Spencer played high school football at Bishop Luers High School in Fort Wayne , Indiana . Spencer was a 3 year starter playing nose guard and full back . At fullback , he dominated in the backfield and ran for more than 600 yards , averaging a solid 9 . 1 yards per carry . By the time Spencer was through , he ended his high school career by setting team records in tackles and sacks . A diverse athlete , Anthony lettered in both football and basketball , and this helped him get accepted to Purdue University . Spencer was a two - time all - state selection and three - time all - area and all - conference selection while playing in the Summit Athletic Conference . He was named the Indianapolis Star ' s Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior , when his team went undefeated and won the 2002 Class 2A state championship . In his 3 years as a starter , Spencer and the Luers team lost a total of 3 games . In addition to the 2002 championship , Luers lost two games on their way to the 2000 Class 2A championship , and their only loss in 2001 came in the 2001 Class 2A championship game . Spencer committed to Purdue University on July 8 , 2003 . Spencer also had FBS scholarship offers from Michigan State . College career . Spencer played college football at Purdue University . Spencer spent the 2002 season on the Purdue scout team as a redshirt freshman . He appeared in ten games during the 2003 season , recording six tackles and one stop behind the line of scrimmage . In 2004 , Spencer played in 12 games and started in 11 . He registered 33 tackles and finished third on the team with 7 . 5 sacks and 9 . 5 stops for losses . He also batted down six passes and forced three fumbles , earning All - Big Ten Conference honorable mention . Even though he started all 11 games in 2005 , Spencer failed to match his 2004 performance due to several minor injuries . He was limited to 23 tackles , three sacks , and 7 . 5 stops behind the line of scrimmage . He caused three fumbles and recovered another while also deflecting one pass . Spencer had a great senior season in 2006 . He finished the season ranked second in the nation with 26 . 5 stops behind the line of scrimmage , the fifth - best season total in Big Ten Conference history . He finished second on the team with 93 tackles ( a high number for a defensive lineman ) and first with 10 . 5 sacks . He also caused five fumbles and recovered another while batting away six passes and blocking one kick . He was named the Purdue football team ' s Most Valuable Player . As a former Indiana high school all - star who also excelled at Purdue , Spencer was co - recipient of the 2007 Rabold Award given by the Indiana Football Coaches Association . Spencer also was invited to play in the 2007 Senior Bowl . Anthony received a degree in African - American Studies , with a minor in Law Society . Professional career . 2007 NFL Draft . Spencer was drafted 26th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2007 NFL Draft . After trading their first round selection to the Cleveland Browns , the Cowboys traded back into the first round to draft him . The Cowboys traded their 2007 second round pick , 2007 third round pick and a 2007 fifth round pick to their conference rival Philadelphia Eagles , in exchange for their 1st round pick ( 26th overall ) . 2007 season . Spencer was converted to an outside linebacker and named the starter opposite to DeMarcus Ware , while Greg Ellis was recovering from his Achilles surgery . He started the first six games of the season , becoming only the fourth rookie linebacker in franchise history to start in a season - opener ( Lee Roy Jordan , Robert Jones , DeMarcus Ware ) . He played in all 16 regular season games and Cowboys ' playoff game . He recorded his first NFL sack against the Chicago Bears on " NBC Sunday Night Football " . Spencer was demoted from his starting position , after Ellis regained his playing form . He finsihed the season with 28 tackles , 3 sacks , and 2 forced fumbles . 2008 season . Spencer played in just 12 games for the Cowboys , starting none . In his limited playing time , Spencer recorded 34 tackles and 1 . 5 sacks . 2009 season . After two years in Dallas ' s defensive system , he became a starter with the departure of Greg Ellis . He would put together a solid 2009 campaign , recording a career best 67 tackles and 6 sacks , along with 2 forced fumbles and his first career interception . Spencer started all 16 regular season games for the Cowboys in 2009 , starting at outside linebacker opposite teammate DeMarcus Ware . While Dallas was able to win their first playoff game in over a decade , the Cowboys fell to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Playoffs . Spencer pitched in 2 tackles and a sack in the Wild Card game against Philadelphia , and had an outstanding game against the Vikings in the Divisional Round , recording 10 tackles and a sack in a 34 - 3 Dallas loss . 2010 season . Spencer followed up his 2009 season with a very solid 2010 season , as he again started all sixteen games . For the first time in Spencer ' s Dallas career , the team finished with a losing record , at 6 - 10 ( the Cowboys were 13 - 3 in 2007 , 9 - 7 in 2008 , and 11 - 5 in 2009 ) . Despite the overall disappointment of Dallas ' s season , Spencer put in a solid 16 starts , recording 63 tackles , 5 sacks , and 2 forced fumbles . 2011 Season . In the 2011 NFL season ( and the last year of Spencer ' s rookie contract ) , Spencer recorded 51 solo tackles , 15 assist tackles , for a total of 66 tackles . Spencer also recorded 6 sacks , 1 pass deflection and 4 forced fumbles in 15 starts as the Dallas Cowboys finished the season 8 - 8 with no playoff appearance . 2012 Season . On March 5 , 2012 , the Dallas Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Spencer . More than a month later , and just before the 2012 NFL Draft , Spencer officially signed the franchise tag , guaranteeing Spencer a salary of $ 8 . 856 million for the 2012 season . Spencer ended up having a break out season and being named to his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Green Bay ' s Clay Matthews . Even though he missed two games , he recorded his first double - digit sack ( 11 ) season , had 27 quarterback hurries , led the Cowboys with 95 tackles , and was the only player in the NFL with 90 + tackles and 10 + sacks . 2013 season . For the second year in a row , the Cowboys put the franchise tag on Spencer . The tender is worth $ 9 . 6 million .