Built to Adapt: Spears-Jennings Shaped by Military Roots

This story appears in the Nov. 22 Missouri game program. Click here to purchase a souvenir copy.

M ore than 100,000 fans roared as Oklahoma stepped onto the field against 14th-ranked Tennessee, a blackout crowd buzzing under the lights of Neyland Stadium. Composure mattered more than ever. That's where Robert Spears-Jennings thrives.

Late in the first half, the senior safety broke on a deep ball and snagged an interception and returned it 37 yards deep into Vols territory, a play that set up a field goal that extended OU's lead and quieted the noise heading into the halftime break.

By the end of the night, Spears-Jennings had totaled eight tackles and that pick, as well as an athletic onside kick recovery late in the fourth quarter. As usual, he brought a steady presence to Oklahoma's defense to help the Sooners earn a statement road win.

For Spears-Jennings, the chaos felt familiar.

As a leader on one of the nation's most dynamic defenses, Spears-Jennings learned long ago how to adjust to change, embrace new environments, and earn respect wherever he goes.

That's the life of a military kid.

"My grandfather was in the Army, and both my mom and dad served in the Navy," Spears-Jennings said. "I had to move to eight states because of the military. It taught me how to be adaptable and adjust to different people."

He was born in South Carolina and lived in Maryland, Florida, Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia and Texas, then moved to Broken Arrow, Okla., for high school.

Robert Spears-Jennings Celebrates with Peyton Bowen after an interception against Tennessee

Robert Spears-Jennings Celebrates with Peyton Bowen after an interception against Tennessee

Spears-Jennings celebrates his interception with teammate Peyton Bowen in Oklahoma's 33-27 win at Tennessee on Nov. 1. As a senior, Spears-Jennings lends valuable experience and leadership to OU's defensive backfield.

L ooking back on all the places he's lived, he knows those constant moves shaped him in ways that go far beyond the football field. They taught him time management, respect, and how to connect with people from every background. That upbringing also made his transition to college smoother than most.

"I adapted to college very well," Spears-Jennings said. "I didn't get homesick or anything like that because I've moved so much. And it's kind of easy for me to relate to others."

Fellow defensive back and Tulsa-area product Gentry Williams arrived at OU with Spears-Jennings as part of the 2022 recruiting class. Both players love to travel and know the other is always willing to take a trip somewhere. They've been to Charlotte, Houston and even South Africa, as part of a SOUL Mission service trip. Perhaps moving from state to state for the first 18 years of his life fostered a love for travel in Spears-Jennings.

"Rob loves to travel more than anybody I've ever met," Williams said. "Anytime I want to go somewhere, I just ask Rob. He would be down to go. And he knows everybody. There's not a person in this world that Rob doesn't know."

The adaptability gained by moving from place to place translated to the football field early in Spears-Jennings' college career as well. While the learning curve was steep, he steadily grew into the player he is today.

"I feel like my football IQ has gone up a lot," Spears-Jennings noted. "Understanding the details of football, like what the offensive coordinator is thinking, and then Coach (Brent) Venables and his staff, have helped me tremendously."

After playing more of a reserve role through his first two collegiate seasons, he broke onto the scene as a junior, starting eleven games, totaling 66 tackles (second on the team), 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and four forced fumbles (eighth nationally), establishing himself as a key playmaker and one of the team's most reliable defenders.

Now in his fourth season in Venables' system, Spears-Jennings has become an anchor in Oklahoma's secondary and a trusted voice in the locker room. It's a role that feels natural to him and is rooted in the values his parents modeled.

He also credits the relationships built within his recruiting class – a tight-knit group that includes Williams, Kip Lewis and R Mason Thomas, among others – for shaping who he's become both as a player and a person.

"Those guys played a big part in me coming back (for my senior season) because those are like my brothers, man," Spears-Jennings said. "We've spent four years growing with each other, doing a lot of stuff together."

That sense of brotherhood shows up daily, from offseason workouts to long film sessions. It's a reflection of a group that's matured together through every win and every setback, and a bond that goes beyond the field.

"Me, Kaden (Helms), Kobie (McKenzie) and Kip like to cook on Sundays for the guys," Spears-Jennings said. "We all have Blackstone grills, so we grill up."

Recently, that meant trying out a new recipe.

"Philly cheeses," he said with a smile. "Fire."

Off the field, that easygoing nature makes Spears-Jennings one of the team's most approachable veterans and a role model to younger players at his position.

"I love playing with RJ," said junior safety Peyton Bowen. "I've really gotten to play with him this year more than ever and the way we are on and off the field, it's a real bond. He's a brother for real."

Sophomore safety Michael Boganowski added, "As soon as I got here, he took me under his wing and taught me the ropes. He's a funny guy and a great dude. You can always rely on him."

After a childhood spent constantly moving, Spears-Jennings has finally found a place that feels permanent. For someone who's lived in eight different states, Norman stands out, not for its flashiness or scenery, but for its people.

"It definitely feels like home here," Spears-Jennings said. "I feel like the people of Norman and the football team are like a brotherhood. That's why I chose to come here. Talking to all the older guys before I got here, they just told me how much they love the program and how close all the guys were. And then as soon as I got here, I built a brotherhood here."

As Oklahoma celebrates its military appreciation game, Spears-Jennings carries his family's legacy proudly. The lessons he learned from growing up in a military home – discipline, composure, adaptability – have become trademarks of his game.