One name not garnering much publicity as the 2010 NFL Draft approaches is former Florida Gators linebacker and defensive leader Brandon Spikes.

Hampered by a number of injuries (as well as a bruised reputation for an eye gouge) throughout the 2009 season, Spikes only participated in a few events at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, planning to do most of his testing at Florida’s Pro Day on March 17 and at individual workouts scheduled by various NFL teams.

Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will all conduct private visits with Spikes in the coming weeks.

Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah told OGGOA before the combine that Spikes could be picked anywhere from the middle of the first round to the middle of the second. The Browns (especially) have a dire need at linebacker, and Spikes would fit well in a 3-4 defense reconstituted by new team czar Mike Holmgren.

Photo Credit: Tim Larson/Icon SMI

Tags: Brandon Spikes, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, combine, Draft, Mike Holmgren, NFL, Pro Day, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Having already competed in the 2010 Senior Bowl and 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, there are only two things left on former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow’s plate before the 2010 NFL Draft: individual team interviews and Florida’s Pro Day on March 17.

Two NFL teams, the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks, have already arranged individual workouts with Tebow after he works out for most of the NFL early next week, according to ESPN

Interestingly enough, the Bills and Seahawks combine to have five of the first 41 picks in the draft. Seattle has the No. 6 and No. 14 overall picks in the first round and the No. 38 selection (No. 6 in the second round), while Buffalo possesses the No. 9 and No. 41 overall picks.

Photo Credit: Jimmy DeFlippo/Sports Illustrated

Tags: Buffalo Bills, combine, Draft, NFL, Pro Day, Seattle Seahawks, Tim Tebow

Jon Gruden has been raving about former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow for almost two years. Thursday, the former NFL head coach had a chance to tutor the Heisman Trophy-winning signal caller one-on-one in Tampa, FL.

“I love quarterbacks, and today I had a blast,” Gruden told The Tampa Tribune. “How can you not root for Tim Tebow? He’s a courageous, competitive, play-making, undeniable force. I think he’s going to be a great success.”

The duo first worked on NFL defensive formations in Gruden’s office before heading out to Carrollwood Day School to throw some passes and work on mechanics. Tebow is in the middle of tweaking his throwing motion and delivery before competing his final work out at Florida’s Pro Day on March 17.

“It was wonderful,” Tebow said of the experience. “To be able to spend a day with Coach Gruden was a lot of fun. He’s got a passion and love for the game that’s unrivaled.”

The Tribune also reports that an ESPN camera crew was on-site to film the day’s activities for a one-hour special that will air a week before the 2010 NFL Draft.

Photo Credit: Cliff McBride

Tags: Draft, Heisman Trophy, Jon Gruden, Pro Day, Tim Tebow

1 » Former Florida Gators cornerback Joe Haden, unanimously considered the best player at his position available for the 2010 NFL Draft before the Scouting Combine, is being criticized by draftniks and supposedly sliding down boards because of his “slow” 4.57-second 40-yard dash. Comments from some like ESPN’s Todd McShay have Haden falling out of the top 10 (never mind the fact that he has a chance to improve it at Florida’s Pro Day on March 17). The time has even spurned beat writers for teams like the Atlanta Falcons to speculate that Haden could fall as low as No. 19. Others, like Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, put Haden’s time in perspective. It’s a bigger deal to those talking about it on television than it is to the NFL scouts hired and fired based on their ability to discern successes from busts.

2 » Florida men’s and womens’ golf each competed at tournaments over the last few days; unfortunately, neither came out as victors. Though they jumped four spots in the final round, the men’s team finished the John Hayt Invitational with a seventh-place score of 899 (+35). The women tied for seventh in the Kinderlou Forest Challenge with a 913 (+37).

Two BITS of Florida Gators football recruiting news after the jump!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Haden’s 40, golf, Prestwood, Floyd

Tags: All-American, combine, Draft, golf, Joe Haden, John Hayt Invitational, Jordan Prestwood, Kinderlou Forest Challenge, Maxwell Football Club, National High School Player of the Year, NFL, Pro Day, Sharrif Floyd, U.S. Army

1 » After ESPN‘s Adam Schefter reported Monday morning that former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow would not be throwing at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine but rather waiting to unveil a new delivery at Florida’s Pro Day on March 17, the Heisman Trophy winner went on the offensive to clear up any concerns about his ability.

2 » Tebow was also supposed to appear on NFL Network Monday, but OGGOA has been unable to find video of his appearance if one did indeed take place. Instead, we have this video of the network’s analysts discussing Tebow’s decision and how it will impact his draft stock. You can also view Schefter’s original ESPN report from earlier.

Tags: combine, Heisman Trophy, NFL, Pro Day, Tim Tebow

Opting to make a go of it in the NFL rather than retiring like former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann suggested earlier this month, former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has decided to unveil a new delivery at Florida’s Pro Day on March 17. Tebow told Adam Schefter of ESPN that he will not throw at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis, IN, and will continue working on three- and five-step drops privately before showcasing his talents for scouts, head coaches and general managers next month.

“I’m not changing who I am or how I approach football,” Tebow said. “But there are things that I can get a lot better at – my fundamentals. I’ve never been asked to shorten or quicken my release and not have a loop in it. The changes I’m making have gone very well and it’s becoming more and more natural to me.”

Altering both his footwork and arm motion (delivery, release point), Tebow said he would have been making these changes regardless of recent criticisms he has received. “I want to get better,” he said. “I want to be around people who will push me. I will do anything to get better. Without hearing the criticism, I would have done it. It’s made me more confident, more accurate. And that’s not to say I haven’t had this type of coaching in the past. I just had different coaching than this NFL style.”

Read what Tebow’s trainers have to say about his progress after the jump!
Continue Reading » Tebow to debut delivery at pro day, not combine

Tags: combine, D1 Sports Training, Heisman Trophy, Kurt Hester, Marc Trestman, NFL, Pro Day, Tim Tebow, Zeke Bratkowski