Round 2 – No. 62
Brandon Spikes, LB
New England Patriots

Height: 6’3″ – Weight: 249 lbs.
Age: 22 – Class: Senior

Steadily drowning under intense scrutiny due to slow 40-yard dash times and concerns about durability, former Florida Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes was thrown a life vest by the New England Patriots, which selected the him with the No. 62 overall pick in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

New England head coach Bill Belichick chose his second Florida player of the evening in Spikes, who will likely be slotted to line up next to former Tennessee star Jerod Mayo as an inside linebacker in the Patriots’ 3-4 defensive scheme. He could end up spending a lot of time on the field with Gators teammate Jermaine Cunningham, who Belichick selected as an outside linebacker just nine picks earlier.

The first Florida linebacker picked since Brandon Siler (seventh round, San Diego Chargers – 2007), Spikes is also the highest drafted at his position since Jevon Kearse (first round, Tennessee Titans – 1999).

At the University of Florida, he was a two-time first-team All American (2008, 2009) and finalist for the Nagurski Award (2008), Butkus Award (2009) and Bednarik Award (2009) while serving as the undisputed leader of the defensive unit.

Spikes and Cunningham join former Gators running back Fred Taylor in New England.

Tags: All-American, Bill Belichick, Brandon Siler, Brandon Spikes, Draft, Fred Taylor, Jermaine Cunningham, Jerod Mayo, Jevon Kearse, New England Patriots, NFL

Eight former letterwinners, including Gator Greats Brad Wilkerson (baseball), Fred Taylor (football) and Brian Gay (men’s golf), were inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame on April 9 as members of the 2010 class. The F Club and Gator Boosters, Inc. presented these honors at the Hall of Fame Banquet in the Holloway Touchdown Terrace.

According to UF, “inductees are divided into three different categories: Gator Greats, Distinguished Letterwinners and Honorary Letterwinners.” The remainder of the induction class included Gator Greats Leah Kirklin Anderson (women’s track & field), Jenny Manz Theis (volleyball) and Jason Odom (football) and Distinguished Letterwinners Laurie Burns (women’s golf) and William Freeman (men’s track & field).

More about each inductee and their individual career accomplishments after the jump.
Continue Reading » Wilkerson, Taylor inducted into 2010 Hall of Fame

Tags: baseball, Brad Wilkerson, Brian Gay, F Club, field, Fred Taylor, Gator Boosters, Gator Greats, golf, Hall of Fame, Jason Odom, Jenny Manz Theis, Laurie Burns, Leah Kirklin Anderson, track, University of Florida, volleyball, William Freeman

With the regular season wrapping up Sunday night, the participants in the 2009 NFL Playoffs have now been determined. There are seven Florida Gators with roles on their squad’s active rosters among the 12 teams competing to appear in Super Bowl XLIV. OGGOA has put together a comprehensive list of these players.

Continue Reading » Florida Gators in the 2009 NFL Playoffs

Tags: Andre Caldwell, Bobby McCray, Brandon Siler, Cincinnati Bengals, Fred Taylor, Ian Scott, Lito Sheppard, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL, Percy Harvin, Playoffs, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl XLIV

Eight former letterwinners, including Gator Greats Brad Wilkerson (baseball), Fred Taylor (football) and Brian Gay (men’s golf), will be inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame 2010 class. The F Club and Gator Boosters, Inc. announced the class on Thursday, which will receive their honors at the Hall of Fame Banquet on April 9, 2010, in the Holloway Touchdown Terrace.

According to UF, “inductees are divided into three different categories: Gator Greats, Distinguished Letterwinners and Honorary Letterwinners.” The remainder of the induction class includes Gator Greats Leah Kirklin Anderson (women’s track & field), Jenny Manz Theis (volleyball) and Jason Odom (football) and Distinguished Letterwinners Laurie Burns (women’s golf) and William Freeman (men’s track & field).

More about each inductee and their career accomplishments after the jump.

Continue Reading » Wilkerson, Taylor, Gay highlight 2010 HOF class

Tags: baseball, Brad Wilkerson, Brian Gay, F Club, Fred Taylor, Gator Boosters, golf, Hall of Fame, Jason Odom, Jenny Manz Theis, Laurie Burns, Leah Kirklin Anderson, track & field, volleyball, William Freeman

As OGGOA reported earlier, New England Patriots running back Fred Taylor underwent surgery Thursday on an injured right ankle that is now being described as having “severe ligament damage.” A new report from the Boston Globe states that NFL sources believe Taylor could now miss the remainder of the season because of the injury.

Taylor, 33, is a former Florida Gators standout who was in the middle of his first season with the Patriots after spending his entire career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He led the team in rushing through four games with 201 yards on 45 carries and two touchdowns.

[In other Gators injury news...] United States Olympic Champion and former Florida swimmer Dara Torres, 42, has decided to undergo reconstructive knee surgery that could sideline her for up to 18 months. While it may be hard to believe that Torres would resume her career at 44 after this type of surgery, she has not given up. “I think this might make me more motivated to go for 2012, just to prove I can get over this,” Torres said. “At least I can set this as a goal.”

Tags: Dara Torres, Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, NFL, swimming

1 » New England Patriots running back Fred Taylor is set to undergo surgery on his injured right ankle according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Taylor, a former Florida Gators standout, is in his first season with the Patriots after spending his entire career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and leads the team with 45 carries and 201 yards.

2 » Louisiana weathermen are expecting thunderstorms and plenty of rain around game time when No. 1 Florida Gators face off against No. 4 LSU Tigers. Jo Goodman of the Miami Herald said the LSU-PD expect around 300,000 football fans and visitors in and around the campus on Saturday.

3 » Former Tennessee Volunteers defensive coordinator John Chavis could not beat the Florida Gators once head coach Urban Meyer took over. So he was fired. Now, Chavis has a shot at redemption after being hired by head coach Les Miles to helm the LSU Tigers‘ defense. And unfortunately for Gators fans, Chavis knows where to start when trying to defend Florida’s explosive offense. “If you can’t stop their run, they’ll mix it up on you with their speed and kill you,” Chavis said. “You’ve got to keep them from running the football.”

4 » The University of Florida‘s Stephen C. O’Connell Center has revamped its concession stands. Gators fans will now be able to choose from new menu items including pulled pork and grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, turkey legs, hamburgers, jambalaya and much more.

Tags: Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars, John Chavis, Les Miles, LSU Tigers, New England Patriots, NFL, O'Connell Center, Urban Meyer