Brandon Spikes Looks Back on Gators Career, Life in the NFL
Former Florida football standout and two-time national champion Brandon Spikes opened up about his life and career on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast.
Growing up in Shelby, North Carolina, Spikes played football from a young age.
Out of high school, Spikes’ top schools were Miami, LSU, Alabama, Florida and Virginia Tech. A perfect storm of canceled official visits and fired staff made it clear Florida was the best place for him.
Spikes also recalled meeting eventual Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow on a visit to Gainesville.
“It got clear when I met Timothy Tebow … This is the guy that’s going to take me where I need to go,” he said.
Florida had finished the 2005 season 9-3 (5-3 SEC) and tied for second in the SEC Eastern Division in Urban Meyer’s first year as head coach.
When Spikes first arrived in Gainesville during Meyer’s second year, he knew the environment was different, and he was right. In his freshman year, he appeared in nine games, starting one and totaling 15 tackles. While his role was limited, he became a national champion in his first year.
Tebow spent his freshman year as a backup to Chris Leak for the Gators. He totaled 13 touchdowns and was the team’s second-leading rusher. In Florida’s 41-14 national championship blowout over Ohio State, Tebow scored one passing and one rushing touchdown.
In his sophomore season, Tebow threw for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns with six interceptions, while running the ball 210 times for 895 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007, validating Spikes’ belief that the quarterback could take him to the promised land.
In 2007, Spikes’ role on the team expanded as a sophomore. He started all 13 games for the Gators at middle linebacker. He totaled 131 tackles that season, with 81 solo tackles and 50 assists. He was a first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches and The Associated Press.
Regardless of accolades, Spikes and the Gators did fall short to Georgia that year. In a huge rivalry game, the No. 9 Gators were upset by the No. 20 Bulldogs. Spikes recalled the anger of watching the Bulldogs celebrate in Florida’s end zone.
“They disrespected us,” Spikes said.
Spikes returned for his junior season and continued to be a key piece for the Gators. He recorded 87 total tackles and returned four interceptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
But with the success came the challenge of maintaining it.
“You do get numb to winning,” Spikes said.
The Gators started the 2008 season 3-0 before suffering a loss to an unranked Ole Miss team in Week 4. The loss served as a wake-up call for Florida, which went undefeated for the rest of the season.
Spikes and the Gators responded by winning the 2008 national championship. The linebacker now had two titles in three seasons.
Following the championship, he earned consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors that season, solidifying his reputation as a top linebacker.
Another championship ring was not guaranteed.
After the 2008 season, two-time first-team All-American Percy Harvin declared for the NFL Draft. A centerpiece for the Gator offense, Harvin was the only player in school history to surpass 1,000 career rushing and receiving yards. He also finished his college career with 1,852 rushing yards, a school record for wide receivers.
Had Harvin come back, Spikes believes the Gators would have won the title in 2009.
However, Florida finished the season with a 13-1 record, falling to Alabama in the 2009 SEC championship game, which cost it a third berth to the BCS National Championship Game in four years. Spikes recorded 52 tackles in his senior season. He earned consensus All-American honors and first-team All-SEC selection.
Spikes declared for the 2010 NFL Draft and was selected by the New England Patriots with the 62nd pick to join forces with future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady.
Despite dealing with injuries in his first two seasons with the Patriots, Spikes played 20 games and recorded 108 total tackles.
In the 2011 season, Spikes reached the Super Bowl with New England, something he said he would do anything for.
He finished with 11 total tackles in the Super Bowl, but the team came up short against the New York Giants, 21-17.
Spikes retired in 2016 after playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2014, returning to the New England Patriots in 2015 and finishing his career with the Bills in 2016.
He retired with 349 total tackles, including 212 solo tackles and 137 assisted tackles.
Even in retirement, the love for the Gator great remains. In Japan, Italy, Spain and all over the world, Gator fans recognize Spikes, he said, and his time at Florida still stays with him.
“I made the best decision of my life,” Spikes said of choosing Florida.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Football
