Brandon Spikes - Relentless
Sunday, November 29, 2009 | Football
By Joshua Lentine, UF Communications
Over the past four years, Gator senior linebacker Brandon Spikes has captured the attention of college football fans everywhere with his passion and intensity. He has created such an intimidating persona, it leads many people to believe that he is just as ferocious away from the field as he is in uniform. The Shelby, N.C., native is, however, a very down-to-earth person who merely transforms from a friendly and mild-mannered man into a talented playmaker when he steps onto a football field. He is a man who rises to the occasion.
“When I'm on the field, I take on a different personality,” Spikes said. “I am much more out-going and demonstrative. Off the field, I'm a real calm guy. I like to be peaceful.”
The change of demeanor stems from his love of football and the pure competitive nature.
“The passion and love of the game is just in me,” said the 2008 consensus first-team All-American. “I'm an emotional guy and would do anything to play this game. I feel like I was made for this sport. God blessed me with certain abilities, for which I thank him every night. Guys know and respect that. My teammates see it and they feed off me so I feel obligated to get them going. That's my job.”
He was not always the symbol of contained chaos seen leading top-ranked Gator defenses on the field each Saturday. Spikes' climb to the top was never a trail-blazed path. As a young boy, he realized and appreciated the sacrifices his mother was making to help provide opportunities for her sons. The single mother of two worked 12 hour days without ever missing a day of work.
“She was my role model,” Spikes recalled. “She is such a strong lady. Even when she didn't want to, she got out there for my brother and me. She did a lot of good things to raise me the right way and I'm better for it. Now, I look at her and smile, because I'm fortunate to have had someone like her show me the right direction.”
During his middle school playing days, the Tar Heel State native rejected claims of his coaches who said that he would never play linebacker at higher levels. Since linebacker was his favorite position, Spikes ignored them and decided to take control of his own fate. Determined to pursue the position he loved, he modeled his play after NFL legends Dick Butkus and Lawrence Taylor.
“Watching Dick Butkus and LT, the first thing I noticed when I saw them was how relentless to the ball they were,” Spikes said. “You could tell they had that dog in them when they were on the field. They were aggressive and were going to go hard for four quarters, all for their team. They made plays all over the field and were the difference- makers and game-changers for their teams.”
Eventually, college recruiters came knocking. When Coach Meyer told Spikes that coming to Gainesville would be the greatest thing he ever did, little did he know how accurate Meyer would be.
His freshman year was special, as Spikes was a contributing member of Florida's 2006 BCS National Championship and SEC Championship teams. As a rookie, he played in nine games, starting once, brought 15 players to the ground and made two pass deflections. Despite watching many plays from the sidelines, his most memorable play as a Gator took place that November against Eastern Division rival South Carolina and signaled UF's return to national prominence.
“We had our backs to the wall against South Carolina,” Spikes remembered. “During a timeout, Jarvis Moss looked over at me and says, 'B, Don't worry about it. I'm going to block that field goal and we'll be good.' The game was on the line and if we didn't block the kick… it was game over. We lose and no national championship or anything like that happens...then, he blocked it! It was crazy.”
Indeed, the blocked kick saved the season for Florida and ultimately resulted in the Gators climbing back into the top tier of collegiate football. However, Moss and many other upperclassmen from the 2006 team would move on after the season and leave Spikes leading a young defense attempting to guard the crown.
During his sophomore year in '07, Spikes put forth a valiant effort. He was a dominating force on the gridiron and had his best statistical year to date, earning Associated Press and Coaches' All-SEC honors by registering 131 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, one and a half QB sacks, seven pass deflections and three fumble recoveries. The defense was hurt by lack of depth and the team finished 9-4 but, despite these setbacks, Spikes emerged as a leader.
Realizing that it was his team to lead, he took it upon himself to help develop a new culture within the program over the past two seasons. Spikes is aware that he is constantly being watched and listened to by his teammates. He knows that attitudes are contagious, which is why he brings passion, energy and a smile to the facility every day.
“If my teammates see another guy come in happy, they will feel the same way. We are all in this together,” Spikes said of the transformation. “I just tell guys to have fun. A lot of times there are outside pressures, but when we're in here, it is just us. We can just lean on each other and live in the moment. Everyone loves being around one another. Now guys are anxious to come here and be with our family. The chemistry on the team is phenomenal.”
As a team leader, he also holds his teammates accountable for their level of play. It is a two-way relationship, which both spurs Spikes to play harder for them and vice-versa.
Junior cornerback Joe Haden said, “If I can't have the same passion that Spikes has for the game, then I don't belong on the field with him.”
Senior linebacker Ryan Stamper agreed, "The way he plays is the way our defense plays. You see our defense has been playing pretty well and that's a reflection of him.”
The 2008 consensus All-American linebacker and Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year has done exceptionally well over the past two seasons. To complement his ability to tackle, he has improved his ability to read quarterbacks, deflecting three passes and intercepting five over that same time span. In fact, Spikes is the only player in the country to have four interception returns for touchdowns.
“He's a very instinctive player, and he's playing at a high level,” Meyer said. “But, more important than that, he's getting everyone else to play at a higher level too.”
Through the first 10 games of 2009, the team's number of assisted tackles per game has increased by more than four, rising from 23.4 in 2008 to 27.7; an indication of when a player needs to be brought down, the defense swarms to the ball. Additionally, there are already 20 Gator players registering double-digit tackles, with nine of them having at least 30. In 2008, 12 players used the entire season record at least 30 tackles, while 22 players recorded 10 tackles over the same time period. The Gators are on pace to finish the season with over 80 tackles-for-loss, 10 more than when the Orange and Blue won its second BCS National Championship in three years.
Nationally, No. 51 and company rank first in scoring defense points per game (10.5) and pass efficiency defense (87.2), second in total defense yards allowed per game (233.9), third-down conversion percentage (26.8) and pass defense yards per game (139.6) and fourth in yards allowed per play (3.94).
After foregoing the NFL Draft and the millions of dollars that likely came with it in order to return for his senior year, things seem to be working out for Spikes.
”The most important thing is that we have been winning,” said Spikes. “The defense has been playing great week-in and week-out. We have a lot of leaders on this team and guys enjoy coming to the facility every day trying to get better, so the sky is the limit.”
Long before they ever played a down, Meyer sat these seniors down and told them they would be special, if they were willing to play to their abilities.
With the defeat of FIU last week, this senior class, Meyer's first core of recruits, became the winningest class in Southeastern Conference history with 46 wins. They enter the regular-season finale with Florida State on a 21-game winning streak, fourth-longest ever in the SEC.
Today the Gator seniors will take the field for the final time in The Swamp. With leaders like Brandon Spikes, who wanted to do things the right way, they have brought unprecedented success to the Florida football program.
After he hands his mother the bouquet of flowers, he will wave to the crowd, fans will cheer for him and his football brethren and in case you can't hear him, his message to the fans will be, “Thanks for all the support over the years. I love The Gator Nation and I'm looking forward to watching these younger guys get [a championship]. Go Gators!”
-UF-
