There was never a doubt in his mind. Even as a timid, significantly undersized freshman with the gift of blazing speed, Markel Spencer longed for the bright lights of big time Division I football.

Aspirations aside, gaining confidence in his ability was the first obstacle keeping him from being a routine starter in Washington’s run-heavy pistol offense. The first time he stepped onto Choppy Wagner Field for a varsity game, Spencer rushed for over 150 yards, but was quickly demoted back to jayvee, a self-imposed decision.

Four years later, as the offensive captain of the Pam Pack, Spencer no longer rejected the attention. Rather, he embraced it.

“I had a rough start at first,” Spencer said. “As a freshman, I was in between whether or not I wanted to play varsity as a freshman or jayvee, but I gradually starting gaining confidence game by game. Finally, I got to that mode and I couldn’t be stopped.”

Through three full seasons on varsity, Spencer pieced together a reputable resume, one that reflects many Division I prospects’ high school campaigns. After playing alongside current East Carolina receiver Jimmy Williams (a run-first quarterback in high school) his sophomore year, Spencer assumed the role of primary offensive producer as a junior, rushing for an Eastern Plains Conference-best 1,936 yards on 244 carries, averaging about eight yards a run.

Then, during his senior year, Spencer put the offense on his back, rushing for 2041 yards and piloting the Pam Pack to the NCHSAA 2-A state championship game, another goal the 5-foot-8, 175-pound back set as a freshman in 2011, a time when that objective may have been considered unreachable. After all, that Pam Pack hadn’t been to the title game since 1956.

With graduation just weeks away, Spencer has yet to be contacted by a Division I program, despite racking up 5,364 yards and 52 touchdowns in three seasons. Now, with confidence overriding apprehensiveness, one of the best running backs in Pam Pack football history has something to prove.

On Thursday morning, Spencer penned his letter of intent to play Division III football at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, where he will play alongside two of his former teammates — scat back Stepfon Rodman and receiver Javon Whitney, both who signed last month.

“I could tell the coaches wanted me in there, wanted me to be a part of their program,” Spencer said. “I like how they’re heavy on education, being on their players about that. Everything was nice, scenery wise, and class sizes weren’t too big or too small.”

But when asked about whether or not he’s going to stick with his dream of some day playing for a big time program, he said, “Definitely. I’m going to go out, get my name out there and hopefully, soon, I’ll be on the grandest stage of all, Division I football. I want to be in that atmosphere — big stadium, lights flashing, thousands of fans. That’s going to be my drive when I go to North Carolina Wesleyan.”

Spencer is the sixth player to commit to a collegiate football program from Washington’s eastern regional championship team, one that featured 26 seniors. While Rodman, Whitney and offensive lineman Lane Jackson all committed to Division III, lineman George Briley will join Division II Chowan and linebacker E.J. Peartree will suit up for D-II Winston-Salem State next fall.

“His speed is 100 percent Division I worthy. It just speaks for itself,” head coach and offensive coordinator Sport Sawyer said of Spencer. “He was able to leave people behind, keep them running, all the time. He was able to do that.”

At the Division III level, “he’s going to be able to hit holes and with his burst of speed, he’s going to be able to run for a lot of yardage, get some touchdowns.”

Spencer, Rodman and Whitney will join a Battling Bishops team that finished 5-5 overall and fifth in the USA South Conference with a 4-4 record in 2014.

“He was like a dad to me. Coach Sawyer was the dad and the assistants were the uncles. It’s like one big family,” Spencer said.

“It’s going to be nice playing alongside Stepfon and Javon. It’s good to have family there. When you have bad day, (and you) might want to back down, you have them to talk to and get your head right, motivate each other.”

Rodman will look to fill the shoes of Jacques Alston, N.C. Wesletan’s all-time leading rusher and a First Team American Football Coaches Association All-American, who graduated this spring. Alston tallied close to 4,000 career rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in four seasons for the Battling Bishops.