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{{Short description|American football player (born 1987)}}
{{Infobox CollegeFootballPlayer
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
|image=Replace this image male.svg
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
|name=Brandon Spikes
{{Infobox NFL biography
||width=
| name = Brandon Spikes
|caption=
| image = Brandon Spikes.JPG
|school=Florida Gators
| alt =
|currentnumber=51
| caption = Spikes with the Buffalo Bills in 2014
|currentposition=]
| number = 55, 51
|class=Senior
| position = ]
|major=Social & Behavioral Sciences
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1987|9|3}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|9|3|mf=y}}
|birthplace=Shelby, North Carolina | birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date =
|heightft=6
| death_place =
|heightin=3
| height_ft = 6
|weight=258
| height_in = 3
|highschool=],<br>]
| weight_lbs = 255
|pastschools=<nowiki></nowiki>
| high_school = ] (Shelby)
* ] (2006–present)
| college = ] (2006–2009)
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
| draftyear = 2010
* ]
| draftround = 2
* 2× First Team All-] (2007, 2008)
| draftpick = 62
* ]
| pastteams =
* ]
* ] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
|cbs=1114679
* ] ({{NFL Year|2014}})
|rivals=65519
* New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
* Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2016}})
| status =
| highlights =
* 2× ] (], ])
* ] (])
* Consensus ] (])
* 3× First-team ] (]–])
| statlabel1 = ]
| statvalue1 = 349
| statlabel2 = ]
| statvalue2 = 2.0
| statlabel3 = ]
| statvalue3 = 6
| statlabel4 = ]
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = ]
| statvalue5 = 2
| pfr = SpikBr99
}} }}
'''Brandon Spikes''' (born ], ] in ]) is an ] ] for the ]. He is considered one of the best linebackers in ] and is expected to be a high draft pick in the ].<ref name="CooneyUSAToday">{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Cooney |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Who's next? Looking ahead to the best of the 2010 draft class |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2009-05-05-2010-draft-preview_N.htm |work=] |publisher= |date=May 11, 2009 |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="PerloffSI">{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Perloff |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Sam Bradford goes No.1 to St. Louis Rams in 2010 NFL Mock Draft |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andrew_perloff/04/28/2010/index.html |work=Sports Illustrated |publisher= |date=April 28, 2009 |accessdate= }}</ref>


'''Brandon Spikes''' (born September 3, 1987) is an American former professional ] player who was a ] in the ] (NFL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brandon Spikes (@bspikes55) • Instagram photos and videos |url=https://www.instagram.com/bspikes55/ |access-date=February 21, 2019 |website=www.instagram.com |language=en}}</ref> He played ] for the ], was recognized as a consensus ] twice and was a member of two ] teams. He was selected by the ] in the second round of the ]. He also played for the ].
==Early years==

Spikes played his ] for ] in ]. Coming out of high school he was considered one of the best ] prospects, and was rated the number one prospect in the state of ] by ] and sixth overall best player in the country according to ]. He was also selected to play in the ].
==Early life==
Spikes was born in ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brandon Spikes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SpikBr99.htm |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He attended ] in Shelby, and was a standout high school football player for the Crest Chargers. Coming out of high school, he was considered one of the best linebacker prospects in the nation, and was rated the number one prospect in the state of North Carolina by ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2006 |title=North Carolina Top 30 2006 |url=https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1360 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |website=Rivals.com}}</ref> and 33rd overall best player in the country according to ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Recruits 2006 |url=http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=4&pid=88&yr=2006 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |website=Scout.com}}</ref> He was also selected to play in the ].


==College career== ==College career==
]
Spikes chose to play for ] over many other colleges including ], ], and ]. Spikes saw limited action in ], playing in nine games and recording 15 ] as the backup to ]. He did help the ] win the ] against ]. In 2007 he became a starter after Siler was drafted in the ]. He started all 13 games at ] recording 131 tackles, which was second in the ]. He also earned First-Team All-SEC along with teammate ].<ref></ref>
Spikes accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the ] over offers from several other colleges. At Florida, he was a four-year letterman, and played for coach ]'s ] team from ] to ].<ref name="ufmediaguide">'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402035222/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 81, 89, 95, 97, 98, 101, 125, 153–154, 185 (2011). Retrieved August 31, 2011.</ref> Spikes appeared in 47 games for Florida with 39 starts at linebacker. He registered 307 tackles (178 solo) in his career, with 31.5 for loss, including 6.5 sacks. He forced two fumbles, recovered four fumbles and had six interceptions which he returned for 139 yards and four touchdowns, more than any other player in the nation and a Florida school record.


Spikes saw limited action in 2006, playing in nine games and recording 15 tackles as the backup to ]. He was a member of the Gators' ] team which defeated ]. In 2007 Spikes became a starter after Siler was selected in the ]. He started all 13 games at middle linebacker recording 131 tackles (81 solo), which was second in the ]. He tied for third in the SEC with 3 fumble recoveries. He also earned first-team All-SEC along with teammate ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Dave |date=December 4, 2007 |title=Tebow, Spikes make first-team All-SEC |url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2007/12/tebow-spikes-ma.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114011432/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2007/12/tebow-spikes-ma.html |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |website=]}}</ref>
Spikes was a consensus First-team ] and First-team All-SEC selection and a team captain in 2008. He was selected as a finalist for the ] and a semifinalist for the ] and ]. He was a starter at middle linebacker and led the team with 93 tackles on the season, including 8.0 for a loss. He made six tackles in the ] win over the ] and had seven tackles, two QB hurries and broke up one pass in the ] against the ]. After the season (his junior year) he decided to forgo entry into the ] and returned to Florida for another season.<ref></ref>


As a junior team captain in 2008, Spikes was a first-team All-SEC selection and a unanimous first-team ].<ref name=ufmediaguide/><ref name="divisionirecords">''2012 NCAA Football Records Book'', , National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 11 & 14 (2012). Retrieved September 14, 2012.</ref> He was selected as a finalist for the ] and a semifinalist for the ] and ]. He was a starter at middle linebacker and led the team with 93 tackles on the season, including 8.0 for a loss. He returned two interceptions for a touchdown tying the school record. He made six tackles in the ] win over ] and had seven tackles, two quarterback hurries and broke up one pass in the ] against ]. After his junior season, he decided to forgo early entry into the ] and returned to Florida for another season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schad |first=Joe |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Spikes, not Harvin, returning to Gators |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3835065 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
In October 2009, Spikes was named a midseason All-American by '']'' and '']''.<ref name="TSNmidseasonAll-Americans">{{Citation |date=October 20, 2009 |title=SN's midseason All-Americans: Defense |newspaper=Sporting News |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-10-20/sns-midseason-all-americans-defense }}</ref><ref name="CBSmidseasonAll-Americans">{{Citation |date=October 22, 2009 |title=CBSSports.com 2009 Midseason All-America Team |work=CBS Sports |url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12399036 }}</ref>

In 2009, Spikes' production fell to 68 tackles (36 solo). In an October 31, 2009, game, Spikes was involved in an incident where he attempted to gouge the eyes of ]'s Washaun Ealey. As a result of this, Florida coach ] suspended Spikes for the first half of their next game against ].<ref name="spi_11_02_2009">{{Cite news |date=November 4, 2009 |title=Florida suspends Spikes for eye gouge |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/cfootballnews.asp?articleID=267082 |access-date=November 4, 2009 |work=The Sports Network |publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}} {{Dead link|date=December 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref><ref name="usa_today_11_2_2009">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Erick |date=November 2, 2009 |title=Florida's Spikes to sit for first half of next game after actions against Georgia |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2009/11/floridas-spikes-to-sit-for-first-half-of-next-game-after-actions-against-georgia/1 |access-date=November 2, 2009 |work=USA Today}}</ref> Spikes later announced that he would sit out for the entire game.<ref name="espn_11_04">{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Chris |date=November 4, 2009 |title=Spikes lengthens his suspension to a full game |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/5568/spikes-lengthens-his-suspension-to-a-full-game |access-date=November 5, 2009 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> As a senior team captain, he was one of three finalists for the 2009 Chuck Bednarik Award, a finalist for the 2009 ], a first-team All-SEC selection, and a consensus ], receiving first-team honors from ''The Sporting News'' and the ] and second-team honors from the ].<ref name=ufmediaguide/><ref name=divisionirecords/>


==Professional career== ==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
===2010 NFL Draft===
| height ft = 6
Spikes is widely believed to be the top inside linebacker available in the ].<ref name="CooneyUSAToday" /><ref name="PerloffSI" /><ref>{{Citation |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= |title=NFL Draft - 2010 ILB Draft Prospects |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2010_ILB }}</ref> He is a cousin of veteran NFL linebacker ], to whom he also draws comparisons.<ref>{{Citation |work=CBSSports.com |date= |title=NFL Draft Profile: Brandon Spikes |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1114679 }}</ref>
| height in = 2 7/8
| weight = 249
| dash = 5.05
| ten split = 1.75
| twenty split = 2.89
| cone drill = 6.97
| vertical = 29.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 3
| arm span = 33 3/8
| hand span = 10
| note = All values from ], except 40 time from ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brandon Spikes Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/brandon-spikes/32005350-4922-5805-e174-3f30d342e235 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brandon Spikes, Florida, ILB, 2010 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=66482&DraftYear=2010 |access-date=February 26, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}</ref>
}}


===New England Patriots (first stint)===
==Personal==
Spikes was drafted by the ] in the second round (62nd overall) of the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He signed a four-year contract on July 26, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guregian |first=Karen |date=July 26, 2010 |title=Rookie Brandon Spikes agrees to four-year deal with Patriots |url=http://bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view/20100726rookie_brandon_spikes_agrees_to_four-year_deal_with_patriots/ |access-date=July 26, 2010 |website=Boston Herald}}</ref> Spikes quickly became a starter at inside linebacker in the Patriots ], alongside ]. Against Baltimore in Week 6 of his rookie season, Spikes recorded 16 tackles in an overtime Patriots win. Spikes recorded his first career interception in a Week 13 win over the ] on ].
His mom, Sherry Allen, moved to ] after getting laid off after 23 years at the plant. She now has a janitorial job at a local school. His brother, Breyon Middlebrooks, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2003, the result of a drug deal in 2001. He tries to keep up with his little brother's college career from his cell at Maury Correctional Institute in ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Long |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Florida's defense finds solid ground with Spikes |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2009-01-05-48563483_x.htm |work=] |publisher= |date=January 6, 2009 |accessdate= }}</ref>

On December 10, 2010, prior to the Patriots' Week 14 game against the ], Spikes was suspended four games (the remainder of the 2010 regular season) for a violation of the NFL's banned substances policy,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rapoport |first=Ian |date=December 10, 2010 |title=Patriots LB Brandon Spikes has been handed a four-game suspension |url=http://bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/ |access-date=December 10, 2010 |website=The Boston Herald}}</ref> reportedly for an ingredient in Spikes' ] medication.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Monique |date=December 12, 2010 |title=Reports: Spikes's drug for ADHD |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2010/12/12/reports_spikess_drug_for_adhd/ |access-date=December 15, 2010 |work=]}}</ref> The same day, Spikes released the following statement:
{{cquote|"I've been contacted by the NFL and informed that I will be suspended four games for the detection of an illegal substance in a drug test. The substance was a medication that I should have gotten clarification on before taking. It was not a performance enhancer or an illegal drug. The integrity of the game is very important to me. I understand the league's ruling and apologize to my teammates, the fans and the Patriots organization for this mistake."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Christopher |date=December 10, 2010 |title=Source: Pats LB Spikes suspended 4 games |url=http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2161981/report-pats-lb-spikes-suspended-4-games |access-date=December 10, 2010 |website=WEEI.com}}</ref>}}

He finished his rookie season with 61 tackles, one interception, and three passes defensed. With his season shortened by the suspension, he played in 12 games, starting eight.

At the end of the 2011 season, Spikes and the Patriots appeared in ]. He started in the game, but the Patriots lost to the ] by a score of 21–17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XLVI – New York Giants vs. New England Patriots – February 5th, 2012 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201202050nwe.htm |access-date=December 6, 2017 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

On November 16, 2012, Spikes was fined $25,000 for a late hit against the ] in Week 10.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2012 |title=Fines roundup: Tim Dobbins of Texans fined for Jay Cutler hit |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/fines-roundup-houston-texans-tim-dobbins-fined-30k-by-nfl-0ap1000000095952 |access-date=November 16, 2012 |website=National Football League}}</ref>

Spikes dealt with a knee injury during the 2013 season, but played in all 16 games. After being late to practice in January 2014, Spikes was placed on injured reserve. Spikes was not re-signed by the team in the offseason.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=January 11, 2014 |title=Report: Patriots put Spikes on IR after he was late to practice |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/11/report-patriots-put-spikes-on-ir-after-he-was-late-to-practice/ |access-date=January 11, 2014 |publisher=Profootballtalk.com}}</ref>

===Buffalo Bills (first stint)===
On March 14, 2014, Spikes agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the ].<ref name="r370">{{cite web | last=Rosenthal | first=Gregg | title=Brandon Spikes agrees to one-year contract with Bills | website=NFL.com | date=2014-03-14 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/brandon-spikes-agrees-to-one-year-contract-with-bills-0ap2000000334269 | access-date=2024-10-26}}</ref> On September 12, 2014, Spikes was fined $8,268 for a late hit on ] wide receiver ].<ref name="i237">{{cite web | title=Brandon Spikes fined $8,268 for unneccessary roughness | website=SI | date=2014-09-12 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2014/09/12/brandon-spikes-buffalo-bills-santonio-holmes-late-hit | access-date=2024-10-26}}</ref>

===New England Patriots (second stint)===
On May 18, 2015, Spikes agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Patriots. On June 8, 2015, Spikes was released due to a police investigation dealing with an abandoned car belonging to Spikes, which was possibly involved in a ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=2015-06-07 |title=Cops find Brandon Spikes' car abandoned after "hitting a deer" |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cops-find-brandon-spikes-car-abandoned-after-hitting-a-deer |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> ] cited Spikes on June 12, 2015, for leaving a scene of an accident with injury, driving negligently, and failing to stay within marked lanes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2015 |title=Former Patriots LB Brandon Spikes cited in hit-and-run accident |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-brandon-spikes-hit-and-run-20150612-story.html |website=]}}</ref>

===Buffalo Bills (second stint)===
Spikes signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on August 7, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Max |date=August 7, 2016 |title=Brandon Spikes reunites with Bills on one-year deal |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/brandon-spikes-reunites-with-bills-on-one-year-deal-0ap3000000681247 |access-date=August 7, 2016 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

===NFL statistics===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Team !! {{tooltip|GP|Games played}} !! {{tooltip|COMB|Combined tackles}} !! {{tooltip|TOTAL|Total tackles}} !! {{tooltip|AST|Assisted tackles}} !! {{tooltip|SACK|Sacks}} !! {{tooltip|FF|Forced fumbles}} !! {{tooltip|FR|Fumble recoveries}} !! {{tooltip|FR YDS|Fumble return yards}} !! {{tooltip|INT|Interceptions}} !! {{tooltip|IR YDS|Interception return yards}} !! {{tooltip|AVG IR|Average interception return}} !! {{tooltip|LNG|Longest interception return}} !! {{tooltip|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdown}} !! {{tooltip|PD|Passes defensed}}
|-
| ] || ] || 12 || 61 || 38 || 23 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 3
|-
| ] || ] || 8 || 47 || 32 || 15 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
| ] || ] || 15 || 92 || 57 || 35 || 1.0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 7
|-
| ] || ] || 16 || 86 || 48 || 38 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 3 || 3 || 3 || 0 || 2
|-
| ] || ] || 16 || 54 || 33 || 21 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3
|-
| ] || ] || 11 || 9 || 4 || 5 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! Career || || 78 || 349 || 212 || 137 || 2.0 || 6 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 8 || 4 || 5 || 0 || 15
|}<ref name="ESPN">{{Cite web |title=Brandon Spikes Stats |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/13298/brandon-spikes |access-date=May 1, 2015 |website=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}}</ref>

==Personal life==

As a child, Spikes was raised by his brother, Breyon Middlebrooks, while their mother, Sherry Allen, worked 12-hour days at a fiberglass plant. In 2003, Middlebrooks was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, the result of a drug deal in 2001. He writes to Spikes regularly and watched what games featuring Spikes that he could from his cell at Scotland Correctional Institute in ]. He is the younger cousin of former NFL linebacker ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Long |first=Mark |date=January 6, 2009 |title=Florida's defense finds solid ground with Spikes |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2009-01-05-48563483_x.htm |access-date=April 27, 2010 |publisher=USA Today |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Lela Woods, with whom he shares a daughter, both appeared on ]'s special on his ] teammate ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 17, 2018 |title=Fiancée Shayanna Jenkins Reveals How She Reacted When Aaron Hernandez Was Arrested For Murder |url=http://www.oxygen.com/aaron-hernandez-uncovered/crime-time/shayanna-jenkins-reveals-aaron-hernandez-arrest |access-date=April 8, 2018 |work=Oxygen Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==

{{Portal|American football|Biography|College football}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Carlson, Norm, ''University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators'', Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). {{ISBN|0-7948-2298-3}}.


==External links== ==External links==
* *
*{{commons category-inline}}


{{2006 Florida football}} {{2006 Florida Gators football navbox}}
{{2008 Florida football}} {{2008 Florida Gators football navbox}}
{{2008 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2009 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Patriots2010DraftPicks}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Spikes, Brandon}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Spikes, Brandon}}
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Latest revision as of 18:35, 26 October 2024

American football player (born 1987)

American football player
Brandon Spikes
refer to captionSpikes with the Buffalo Bills in 2014
No. 55, 51
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1987-09-03) September 3, 1987 (age 37)
Shelby, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Crest (Shelby)
College:Florida (2006–2009)
NFL draft:2010 / round: 2 / pick: 62
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:349
Sacks:2.0
Forced fumbles:6
Fumble recoveries:1
Interceptions:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Brandon Spikes (born September 3, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, was recognized as a consensus All-American twice and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for the Buffalo Bills.

Early life

Spikes was born in Shelby, North Carolina. He attended Crest High School in Shelby, and was a standout high school football player for the Crest Chargers. Coming out of high school, he was considered one of the best linebacker prospects in the nation, and was rated the number one prospect in the state of North Carolina by Rivals.com and 33rd overall best player in the country according to Scout.com. He was also selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

College career

Spikes with the Florida Gators in 2008

Spikes accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida over offers from several other colleges. At Florida, he was a four-year letterman, and played for coach Urban Meyer's Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2009. Spikes appeared in 47 games for Florida with 39 starts at linebacker. He registered 307 tackles (178 solo) in his career, with 31.5 for loss, including 6.5 sacks. He forced two fumbles, recovered four fumbles and had six interceptions which he returned for 139 yards and four touchdowns, more than any other player in the nation and a Florida school record.

Spikes saw limited action in 2006, playing in nine games and recording 15 tackles as the backup to Brandon Siler. He was a member of the Gators' BCS National Championship team which defeated Ohio State. In 2007 Spikes became a starter after Siler was selected in the 2007 NFL draft. He started all 13 games at middle linebacker recording 131 tackles (81 solo), which was second in the Southeastern Conference. He tied for third in the SEC with 3 fumble recoveries. He also earned first-team All-SEC along with teammate Tim Tebow.

As a junior team captain in 2008, Spikes was a first-team All-SEC selection and a unanimous first-team All-American. He was selected as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award. He was a starter at middle linebacker and led the team with 93 tackles on the season, including 8.0 for a loss. He returned two interceptions for a touchdown tying the school record. He made six tackles in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game win over Oklahoma and had seven tackles, two quarterback hurries and broke up one pass in the 2008 SEC Championship Game against Alabama. After his junior season, he decided to forgo early entry into the 2009 NFL draft and returned to Florida for another season.

In 2009, Spikes' production fell to 68 tackles (36 solo). In an October 31, 2009, game, Spikes was involved in an incident where he attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia's Washaun Ealey. As a result of this, Florida coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes for the first half of their next game against Vanderbilt. Spikes later announced that he would sit out for the entire game. As a senior team captain, he was one of three finalists for the 2009 Chuck Bednarik Award, a finalist for the 2009 Butkus Award, a first-team All-SEC selection, and a consensus All-American, receiving first-team honors from The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation and second-team honors from the Associated Press.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m) 		249 lb
(113 kg) 		33+3⁄8 in
(0.85 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 5.05 s 1.75 s 2.89 s 6.97 s 29.0 in
(0.74 m)		 9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)
All values from NFL Scouting Combine, except 40 time from Pro Day

New England Patriots (first stint)

Spikes was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2010 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract on July 26, 2010. Spikes quickly became a starter at inside linebacker in the Patriots 3–4 defense, alongside Jerod Mayo. Against Baltimore in Week 6 of his rookie season, Spikes recorded 16 tackles in an overtime Patriots win. Spikes recorded his first career interception in a Week 13 win over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.

On December 10, 2010, prior to the Patriots' Week 14 game against the Chicago Bears, Spikes was suspended four games (the remainder of the 2010 regular season) for a violation of the NFL's banned substances policy, reportedly for an ingredient in Spikes' ADHD medication. The same day, Spikes released the following statement:

"I've been contacted by the NFL and informed that I will be suspended four games for the detection of an illegal substance in a drug test. The substance was a medication that I should have gotten clarification on before taking. It was not a performance enhancer or an illegal drug. The integrity of the game is very important to me. I understand the league's ruling and apologize to my teammates, the fans and the Patriots organization for this mistake."

He finished his rookie season with 61 tackles, one interception, and three passes defensed. With his season shortened by the suspension, he played in 12 games, starting eight.

At the end of the 2011 season, Spikes and the Patriots appeared in Super Bowl XLVI. He started in the game, but the Patriots lost to the New York Giants by a score of 21–17.

On November 16, 2012, Spikes was fined $25,000 for a late hit against the Buffalo Bills in Week 10.

Spikes dealt with a knee injury during the 2013 season, but played in all 16 games. After being late to practice in January 2014, Spikes was placed on injured reserve. Spikes was not re-signed by the team in the offseason.

Buffalo Bills (first stint)

On March 14, 2014, Spikes agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. On September 12, 2014, Spikes was fined $8,268 for a late hit on Chicago Bears wide receiver Santonio Holmes.

New England Patriots (second stint)

On May 18, 2015, Spikes agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Patriots. On June 8, 2015, Spikes was released due to a police investigation dealing with an abandoned car belonging to Spikes, which was possibly involved in a hit-and-run. Massachusetts State Police cited Spikes on June 12, 2015, for leaving a scene of an accident with injury, driving negligently, and failing to stay within marked lanes.

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

Spikes signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on August 7, 2016.

NFL statistics

Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD
2010 NE 12 61 38 23 0.0 0 0 0 1 5 5 5 0 3
2011 NE 8 47 32 15 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2012 NE 15 92 57 35 1.0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
2013 NE 16 86 48 38 0.0 0 1 0 1 3 3 3 0 2
2014 BUF 16 54 33 21 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2016 BUF 11 9 4 5 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 78 349 212 137 2.0 6 1 0 2 8 4 5 0 15

Personal life

As a child, Spikes was raised by his brother, Breyon Middlebrooks, while their mother, Sherry Allen, worked 12-hour days at a fiberglass plant. In 2003, Middlebrooks was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, the result of a drug deal in 2001. He writes to Spikes regularly and watched what games featuring Spikes that he could from his cell at Scotland Correctional Institute in Laurinburg, North Carolina. He is the younger cousin of former NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes.

Lela Woods, with whom he shares a daughter, both appeared on Oxygen's special on his Florida teammate Aaron Hernandez.

See also

References

  1. "Brandon Spikes (@bspikes55) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  2. "Brandon Spikes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  3. "North Carolina Top 30 2006". Rivals.com. January 23, 2006. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  4. "Top Recruits 2006". Scout.com. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  5. ^ 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 81, 89, 95, 97, 98, 101, 125, 153–154, 185 (2011). Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  6. Curtis, Dave (December 4, 2007). "Tebow, Spikes make first-team All-SEC". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  7. ^ 2012 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 11 & 14 (2012). Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  8. Schad, Joe (January 15, 2009). "Spikes, not Harvin, returning to Gators". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  9. "Florida suspends Spikes for eye gouge". The Sports Network. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 4, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  10. Smith, Erick (November 2, 2009). "Florida's Spikes to sit for first half of next game after actions against Georgia". USA Today. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  11. Low, Chris (November 4, 2009). "Spikes lengthens his suspension to a full game". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  12. "Brandon Spikes Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  13. "Brandon Spikes, Florida, ILB, 2010 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  14. "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  15. Guregian, Karen (July 26, 2010). "Rookie Brandon Spikes agrees to four-year deal with Patriots". Boston Herald. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  16. Rapoport, Ian (December 10, 2010). "Patriots LB Brandon Spikes has been handed a four-game suspension". The Boston Herald. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  17. Walker, Monique (December 12, 2010). "Reports: Spikes's drug for ADHD". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  18. Price, Christopher (December 10, 2010). "Source: Pats LB Spikes suspended 4 games". WEEI.com. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  19. "Super Bowl XLVI – New York Giants vs. New England Patriots – February 5th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  20. "Fines roundup: Tim Dobbins of Texans fined for Jay Cutler hit". National Football League. November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  21. Smith, Michael David (January 11, 2014). "Report: Patriots put Spikes on IR after he was late to practice". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  22. Rosenthal, Gregg (March 14, 2014). "Brandon Spikes agrees to one-year contract with Bills". NFL.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  23. "Brandon Spikes fined $8,268 for unneccessary roughness". SI. September 12, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  24. Gantt, Darin (June 7, 2015). "Cops find Brandon Spikes' car abandoned after "hitting a deer"". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  25. "Former Patriots LB Brandon Spikes cited in hit-and-run accident". Los Angeles Times. June 12, 2015.
  26. Meyer, Max (August 7, 2016). "Brandon Spikes reunites with Bills on one-year deal". NFL.com. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  27. "Brandon Spikes Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  28. Long, Mark (January 6, 2009). "Florida's defense finds solid ground with Spikes". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  29. "Fiancée Shayanna Jenkins Reveals How She Reacted When Aaron Hernandez Was Arrested For Murder". Oxygen Official Site. March 17, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.

Bibliography

  • Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.

External links

2006 Florida Gators football—consensus national champions
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