Spikes returning to UF
GAINESVILLE (AP) – Linebacker Brandon Spikes spent the first few minutes of Florida’s first spring practice fielding punts. It wasn’t pretty.
When he finally caught one, teammates and fans gave him an ovation. Spikes responded with a bow. It probably won’t be the last chance for Spikes to relish the spotlight. The team’s leading tackler the last two seasons, Spikes decided to return for his senior year and try to win a third national championship.
“It’s definitely a dream,” Spikes said. “Right now, that’s the drive for us.”
The Gators have reason to believe it can happen, too.
Florida returns 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and six other starters on offense, as well as the team’s entire defense.
Spikes welcomes all the hype, the talk about repeating and the challenge of avoiding any complacency that might come from so much recent success.
“It’s kind of easy to just get satisfied,” Spikes said. “You’ve got two national championships, two SEC (titles). A lot of teams don’t even win one. We’ve got two. We’ve got a lot of experience and we’re expecting a lot out of guys. I’m just going to keep motivating guys.”
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound junior from Shelby, N.C., could have declared for the NFL draft and might have been an early round pick, and no one would have blamed him for leaving.
His decision surprised some, even coach Urban Meyer.
“I know the draw and the pull,” Meyer said. “I’ve sat in those meetings. I think he did the right thing. If he would have left, he did the right thing. The further our program gets going, kids aren’t making snap decisions now.”