Brandon Spikes life and biography

Brandon Spikes is an American football middle linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

Brandon Spikes was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

2010 (9/8)
* Registered two tackles in a start against the Steelers (11/14).
* Led the team with 10 tackles against the Browns (11/7).
* Registered 10 tackles in a start against the Vikings (10/31). Combined with Vince Wifork to stop Adrian Peterson for a 1-yard loss on ?rst-and-goal from the 10-yard line late in the second quarter, starting a defensive stand that ended in Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham stopping Peterson for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.
* Made three tackles in a start against the Chargers (10/24).
* Tallied a career-high 13 tackles in his fourth straight start of the season against the Ravens (10/17).
* Made three tackles in a start against the Dolphins (10/4).
* Recorded ?ve tackles against the Bills in his second start (9/26).
* Made his ?rst NFL start at inside linebacker against the Jets and led the team with 10 tackles (9/19).
* Played in his ?rst NFL game in the season opener against the Bengals, tallying two tackles and a pass defensed (9/12).

College

Spikes started 39 of 47 games at Florida, including his final 38 appearances … Recorded 307 tackles (178 solos) with 6.5 sacks for minus 42 yards, 31.5 stops for losses totaling 89 yards and eight pressures … Caused two fumbles and recovered four others … Deflected 14 passes and intercepted six others, setting the school career record, as he returned four of those for touchdowns … Third linebacker in NCAA football since 1996 to return four interceptions for touchdowns in a career … Those four scores were one shy of the SEC all-time record of five by Jackie Walker of Tennessee (1969-71) … His 16.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2007 rank 13th on the school season-record list … Led the team in tackles in 2007 and 2008, becoming just the sixth Gator to ever lead Florida in tackles in back-to-back seasons … In 2008, Spikes had four interceptions vs. top-25 teams, which tied for second among all players nationally and was the most by any linebacker in the country since 1996 … The only other linebackers that have had four interceptions in a season vs. top-25 teams were Tulsa’s Michael LeDet (2004) and Michigan State’s T.J. Turner (1999)…2009 (Senior): All-American first-team selection by The Sporting News, Associated Press and Walter Camp…Finalist for the Butkus Award (top linebacker) and Bednarik Award (nation’s top defender) … Lombardi Award semifinalist and Lott Trophy quarterfinalist … First-team All-SEC choice by the league’s coaches and second-team pick by the AP … Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week vs. LSU … Ranked fourth on the team with 68 tackles (36 solos), three sacks for minus 16 yards, 6.5 stops for losses of 22 yards and three pressures … Caused and recovered a fumble … Deflected three passes and intercepted two others, returning both for touchdowns that totaled 46 yards … Made 61 plays vs. the ground game, as those ball carriers gained 168 yards (2.75 ypc) with three touchdowns and eight first downs, as Spikes posted six third-down and two fourth-down stops, along with taking down three rushers at the line of scrimmage for no gain in run force … Had nine of 17 passes into his area completed for 68 yards and one first down, as he totaled one fourth-down and four third-down tackles in pass situations … Registered 12 of his stops inside the red zone, including four on goal-line plays … Part of a unit that ranked second in the SEC and 12th nationally, allowing opponents an average of 99.79 yards rushing …The Gators also finished fourth in the nation in both total defense (252.27 ypg) and scoring defense (12.43 ppg)….2008 (Junior): Named a consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC performer … Team captain and a member of the 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee ... Selected as a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy and a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Bednarik Awards ... One of only five linebackers in the nation with two INT-TDs during the season (tied the school record) … All four of his interceptions came vs. Top 25-ranked teams (two vs. LSU and one each vs. South Carolina and Florida State) … Became the sixth player in school history to lead the team in tackles in back-to-back seasons, recording 93 hits (52 solos) with two sacks for minus 13 yards, eight stops for losses of 29 yards and four pressures …Totaled 93 yards in returns on four interceptions and also broke up two throws … Helped the team rank fourth in the nation with an SEC-best 12.93 points allowed, as the Gators also finished ninth nationally in total defense (285.29 ypg) and 15th vs. the run (105.43 ypg)….2007 (Sophomore): Spikes started all 13 games at middle linebacker, earning first-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches and AP … Member of the UF Football Leadership Committee … Led the team with a career-high 131 tackles (81 solos), as he posted 1.5 sacks for minus 13 yards and led the Gators with 16.0 stops for losses of 36 yards (13th-best season total in school history) … Credited with one QB pressure, as he recovered three fumbles and caused another … Deflected seven passes … Part of a squad that led the conference and ranked 10th in the nation vs. the run, allowing just 103.31 yards per game. 2006 (Freshman): Played in nine games, including one start … Finished with 15 tackles (9 solos), a stop for a 2-yard loss and two deflections.

Personal

Born the son of Sherry Allen on Sept. 3, 1987 in Shelby, North Carolina … Spikes has solid football bloodlines, as his cousin, Takeo Spikes, is a 13-year NFL veteran, having played linebacker for Cincinnati (1998-2002), Buffalo (2003-06), Philadelphia (2007) and San Francisco (2008-present) after an All-American career at Auburn…Brandon patterns his style of play after Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, honoring his idol by wearing Butkus’ jersey number during his playing days with the Chicago Bears (no. 51) …Attended Crest Senior (Cleveland County, N.C.) High School, lettering four times in football as a starter at defensive end and linebacker …Majored in anthropology.

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