COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman is a big fan of defensive end Spencer Nealy's gung-ho approach. From about 30 feet.

"He's so enthusiastic, I have a 10-yard restraining order against him," a grinning Sherman said of the 6-foot-4, 277-pound oft-sweaty ball of energy. "Because he'll (accidentally) spit on you, and there's stuff falling off of his head because he's always moving around."

Nealy first chuckled when relayed Sherman's story — then paused.

"Wait, did he say feet or yards on the restraining order?" Nealy asked. "I guess I'm supposed to stay a little farther away than I thought."

Honestly, Sherman wouldn't mind giving Nealy a big ole bear hug these days with the way the junior from Reagan High has stepped up for a defensive line thinned by injury.

"Part of the reason we've played better in the last few weeks is because Spencer has played more," defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. "For what Spencer lacks athletically relative to (the injured) Jonathan Mathis, he really brings a lot to the table as far as energy and enthusiasm, and he really does a nice job of lifting the guys around him."

Even during 6 a.m. workouts and practices.

"I love Spencer — he brings a lot of energy to the team, and it doesn't matter what the situation is," quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. "You see him in the game get up from the ground and do some crazy, spastic moves after he makes a play. As far as (early morning), Spencer is Spencer no matter what time it is. He brings an 'X-factor' to our team as far as getting us going when we're a little sluggish."

Nealy, son of one-time Spurs player and longtime NBA journeyman Ed Nealy, said he inherited his perpetual enthusiasm from his father — along with a love for hoops.

"Basketball was always my No. 1 sport, but it's hard to make it (in college and pros) as a 6-4 center," Spencer said.

Reminded that there is a place in the higher levels of the sport for a 6-4 guard, Nealy chuckled.

"Yeah, but I'm not considered the most agile and athletic guy," he said.

He's plenty athletic for A&M's needs in taking over for Mathis the last three games — all victories for the No. 16 Aggies, who trail Oklahoma State and Kansas State in the Big 12 race by a game.

A&M (5-2, 3-1 Big 12), which hosts Missouri (3-4, 1-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday, has been buoyed of late by the play of the defensive line. Nealy is second on the team with 51/2 tackles for losses despite starting less than half the season.

"You need those kinds of guys," Sherman said of Nealy's uninterrupted fervor. "You need guys who have that type of energy and passion. He's not the best athlete on the field on Saturdays, but he gives you everything he has on every single play. What you see is what you get with Spencer, and I'd take 11 of those guys and go beat anybody."

Added safety Trent Hunter: "He's a character — and his enthusiasm is not an act, by any means."

Even at 6 a.m.

"Nobody in the city of College Station has more energy than Spencer Nealy," linebacker Jonathan Stewart said. "He'll be the only one yelling in the morning saying, 'C'mon, guys, let's get ready!' You say, 'Man, how do you do it?' Sometimes it's annoying, but you need somebody like that.

"He always gets that positive vibe going — and he's somebody we definitely need on this defense."

bzwerneman@express-news.net