Spikes honored by SEC

<p>Florida senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes came up big for the Gators on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La. The Southeastern Conference honored him for it on Monday morning.</p><p>Spikes was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career following the Gators’ 13-3 victory over LSU, the league office announced Monday.</p><p>Spikes had previously earned the accolade last October after UF’s triumph in The Swamp over the Tigers, when he had a pair of interceptions, including a 52-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter, and anchored a defensive unit that held LSU to 80 yards rushing.</p><p>On Saturday night in Death Valley, Spikes had a team- and season-high 11 tackles, including a career-high three quarterback sacks for losses of 14 yards in the Gators' road win over fourth-ranked LSU. Spikes' three sacks were the most by a Gator since Derrick Harvey three against Ohio State in the 2006 BCS National Championship Game.</p><p>Spikes led a Gator defense that limited LSU to just 162 yards of offense, its lowest output since Nov. 24, 2000, and 66 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Florida has held its opponents to under 100 yards rushing in four of the last five games this season. UF also forced the Tigers into a 1-of-9 performance on third-down conversions.</p><p>LSU was held to three points or less at home for only the third time since 1996. It was also the first time UF held an SEC opponent to three points or less on the road since 1994 (31-0 win vs. Tennessee).</p><p>Florida held LSU under 100 yards both in passing (96) and rushing (66), the second consecutive game that the Gator defense has accomplished the feat. In addition, UF surrendered just four yards on six plays in the third quarter and allowed 44 yards in the entire second half.</p><p>Led by Spikes, the Gators had a season-high five sacks, all in the second half. UF’s starting linebackers (Spikes, redshirt junior A.J. Jones, senior Ryan Stamper) accounted for 30 tackles. Florida also leads the SEC in forcing opponent's three-and-outs on 50 percent of its drives (30 of 60).</p><p><b>Florida’s 2009 SEC Players of the Week (as of Oct. 12):</b></p><p>Brandon James – Special Teams Player of the Week after Charleston Southern game (9/5/09)</p><p>Tim Tebow – Offensive Player of the Week after Troy game (9/12/09)</p><p>Maurkice Pouncey – Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Tennessee game (9/19/09)</p><p>Marcus Gilbert – Offensive Lineman of the Week after Kentucky game (9/28/09)</p><p>Brandon Spikes – Defensive Player of the Week after LSU game (10/12/09)</p>