All-American middle linebacker Brandon Spikes announced he will return for his senior season at the University of Florida while All-American wide receiver Percy Harvin has declared for the National Football League Draft.
“I’m excited to hear that Brandon is coming back,” said head coach Urban Meyer. “At the end of the day, I want our players to make educated decisions about their future. Brandon has obviously done that. He was the heart and soul of our defense this year. He was the quarterback of our defense and set the tone in many of our victories.”
“It was a tough decision for me and my family,” said Spikes. “I just felt like it was the right choice to come back. I love the coaching staff and my teammates and I look forward to playing another year in front of the best fans in America.”
Spikes was an integral part of the national champion Gators’ defense and led the team with 93 tackles, to go with four interceptions and eight tackles for loss, including two sacks. All four of his interceptions came against top-25 opponents, which tied for first among all players nationally and was the most by any linebacker in the country. A finalist for the Nagurski Award, Spikes was one of five linebackers in the nation to have two interceptions returned for touchdowns last season. He has led the Gators in tackles in 10 of the last 17 games, recording 10-or-more tackles in five of his last 14 outings. Spikes was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Rivals.com, The Sporting News and Walter Camp and was a first-team All-SEC recipient.
Harvin, who averaged 108.7 all-purpose yards per game for the Gators and scored a team-high 17 touchdowns in 2008 (10 rushing and seven receiving), said, “I will have a lot of great memories from my time at Florida, but the championships we won in 2006 and 2008 will be at the top of my list. When it is all said and done, I wanted to win. I wanted to be a part of championship teams. We did that at Florida and I had a great group of coaches, teammates and medical and strength staff that helped make that happen. I will always be a Gator and look forward to watching them play next year on Saturdays.”
Harvin scored a touchdown in each of the last 15 games he played, the longest streak in the nation. In Florida’s national championship season in 2008, Harvin rushed for 660 yards on just 70 carries, averaging 9.4 yards per rush, best per carry average in the country. He also led the Gators with 40 catches for 644 yards (16.1 per catch).
“Percy is the most dynamic player I’ve ever coached and can change the game on any given play,” said Meyer. “He has the best first step I’ve ever seen and his ability to plant his foot and go is unmatched. Percy is a relentless competitor who wants to win. We wish him the best of luck and we look forward to having him around our program. He will always be a part of our Gator football family.”
In the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Game victory over Oklahoma, Harvin tallied 171 all-purpose yards, highlighted by a team-high 122 yards rushing on nine carries and also caught five passes for 49 yards. His two-yard run late in the third quarter gave UF a 14-7 lead. He had a 52-yard carry on the drive that produced the game-winning field goal. Harvin collected All-America recognition from the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp and was a
first-team All-SEC pick at wide receiver.
Harvin finishes his career as one of the most prolific offensive threats in school history. He totaled 133 catches for 1,929 yards and 13 touchdowns, while rushing the ball 194 times for 1,852 yards with 19 touchdowns. His 32 career touchdowns is the most ever by a UF wide receiver. He averaged an astounding 9.5 yards per carry and averaged 11.6 yards ever time he touched the ball. He is the only player in UF history to rush for 100 yards and have 100 yards receiving in the same game (Vanderbilt, 2007). Harvin was the MVP of the 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship Game as a true freshman.