When opponents have seen Terande Spencer coming this season, they tend to run the other way.

But even then, the edge-outside linebacker from Richmond Senior High in Rockingham, NC, makes them pay.

“He made a play Friday night (Oct. 31 against Pinecrest) where the play went away from him,” Richmond coach Brad Denson said. “He gets off his block, takes a pursuit angle and old boy (runner) tried to cut back. It didn’t end well. I mean, he’s (Spencer) 240 pounds coming as hard as he can come … Terand went slap through him.”

Spencer, a 6-foot-3, 240-pounder, has been producing those kind of spectacular hits for three seasons with the state powerhouse Raiders. It’s what caught the attention of East Carolina and other college suitors, who have extended scholarship offers since last January. The Pirates, however, were the first on the scene and Spencer rewarded them by becoming one of the initial members of the recruiting Class of 2026 back on June 15.

Appalachian State, Charlotte, North Carolina, N.C. A&T, Troy, South Florida and West Georgia also offered Spencer. But following an official visit to Greenville on June 12-14, Spencer knew he wanted to wear the purple and gold.

“They (ECU) have been in the boat since day one,” Denson said about Spencer’s recruitment. “I think that’s why he’s fallen in love with East Carolina and the staff because they’ve been there since the beginning.”

Spencer will continue a tradition of former Raiders who have gone on to play their college football at ECU. Old Rockingham High and Richmond Senior have produced at least 18 ECU football letterwinners since 1953, including former Pirate athletics director Bill Cain (1957-59), linebacker Chuck Northcutt (1981-83), quarterback Chuck Bishop (1980-83), wide receiver Jamar Bryant (2007-09) and running back Norman Whitley (2008-10).

The list also includes current ECU defensive lineman J.D. Lampley. Another of Spencer’s former Richmond teammates, Jacoby Martin, is a redshirt freshman walk-on defensive lineman at ECU.

Denson, who quarterbacked the Raiders to consecutive unbeaten seasons and state 4-A titles in 1997 and 1998, played with Spencer’s father, Marcus, at Richmond, so he was aware of Terande before he arrived at the high school level as a freshman in 2021.

“He came up through our middle schools,” said Denson, who was Richmond’s offensive coordinator when Spencer arrived. “As a ninth grader, we saw the potential of what he had. He had the size and athletic ability. It’s just continued to develop and get better every year.”

Spencer appeared in one varsity game as a freshman, making a single tackle. He earned a starting job as a sophomore when he made 67 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and six sacks over 11 games. The highlight of that season for Spencer occurred against Southern Lee when he recorded five sacks.

Sandhills 4-A Athletic Conference Defensive Most Valuable Player honors came Spencer’s way as a junior when he made 101 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and two interceptions for a team that finished 10-3 and advanced to the third round of the state 4-A playoffs.

The Raiders are 9-2 this season after defeating Porter Ridge 48-43 on Nov. 14 in the second round of this year’s state 7-A playoffs. They will take on third round opponent Independence on Friday.

Despite missing three games due to injuries, Spencer has still collected 73 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and eight sacks this season. He’s achieved that despite being the focus of opposing offenses all year, according to Denson.

“He gets held all the time. He gets double-teamed all the time,” Denson said. “The protection is coming to him. If it’s a passing down they are trying to double-team him up. But that doesn’t stop him. His effort is unreal. It’s relentless effort. He never has the attitude of ‘OK, I got blocked so I’m done.’ He’s going to get to the ball one way or another. If you get in his way, he’ll just go through you.”

Spencer’s physique reminds Denson of one former Raider great, while his intensity resembles what Lampley displayed as a prep player.

“Melvin Ingram, who came out of here back in the day, he (Spencer) has that body type,” Denson said. “I think Melvin was probably more athletic. He was more of a skill-type athlete. Melvin could line up and play quarterback. We’ll put Terande in the backfield from time to time as a blocker, but he’s not going to do that.

“Terande and J.D. are obviously different kids. J.D. is an interior lineman and Terande is an edge guy. But as far as their effort and pursuit to get to where they need to get to, they are extremely alike. They are the type that ‘if I get my hands on you, I’ve got you.”’

Spencer has been recruited to play an edge or outside linebacker position by ECU.

“He’s an outside linebacker who can drop back into (pass) coverage,” Denson said. “But he can be a pass rusher as well.”

The Pirates will get to start integrating Spencer into their defensive scheme next January. He’s scheduled to graduate from Richmond Senior in December and will enroll at ECU for the spring semester.