http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/01/news-spikes-exp.html

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that sources close to the Gators claim that Brandon Spikes will be returning for his senior year. Of course, I won't truly believe it until the words come from his mouth. However, if this is true, are you KIDDING ME?!?!? We would have all 11 of our starters coming back on defense, a truly incredible feat.

Imagine if both he and Harvin come back? This could be the Oh-Fours all over again. It would be nice to see. I can't wait!

holy crap, can this be true ? If it is true, all I can say is look out SEC. Can any one really imagine just HOW great this defense could be next year, if he does come back. I think that the beast of the defense could be Janoris Jenkins though. Imagine for a moment if you will Jenkins as a sophmore. He was a stud as a true freshman. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though, that is a long way off. Spikes coming back for his senior year would, just be a caveat to what should be a tremendous defense.

I agree. Jenkins is a stud. I'm still more impressed by Major Wright. Are you kidding me with some of these hits? He's incredible. Also, Joe Haden has really stepped up this year, after getting burned a couple of times last year. Even if Spikes doesn't come back, we still will have a great defense with another Brandon (Hicks) stepping right in. I believe he will be the next in a line of great Brandons, following Spikes and Siler.

As for Spikes, as much as I want him to stay, I think it would be wise of him to leave for the NFL. As of now, he's projected as a first round pick. That fact, along with the new rookie cap rules starting in 2010, I think he would be foolish to not take the paycheck.

I am thinking the same thing about Spikes. Hey let's face it, we are selfish and would like for Spikes to suit up in the orange/blue again next year, and I don't mean Denver. However, with the impeding salary cap on rookies, this decision is literally a multi million dollar choice. It is scary to think, if you aren't a gator, about how fast our team could become next year. I don't know about you, but I thought Major Wright's tremendous hit, in the opening minutes of the game sent a message to Oklahoma's receivers that they were going to have a rough night. You could almost see it in that guys face. It was like, wow, I don't think they hit like this in the Big 12. All those crossing routes in the middle that I saw them running against Missou / Texas Tech. They didn't seem to try that crap against Florida it seemed. You know what was funny? Did you see Bradford's face when he came out from the last drive, it was like, what just happened here? He had the deer in the head light look going on.

That hit by Wright was absurd. I was at the game, and the crowd went absolutely bonkers after the replay. You could feel a collective cringe. It was awesome.

The NFL rookie will not be in place until at least 2011 and Spikes is only projected as a second to third round pick according to the coaches and scouts that were employed to give Spikes his draft projection.

I know the thread is about Spikes, and I've always heard that the NFL rookie cap could start in 2010. A quick search found this article: link . While the expiration of the CBA means 2011 would eb a true 'rookie cap', the column notes that 'some revision to rookie salaries' would take place for 2010. I'm going to assume there is some more recent agreement (haven't found it, quickly, as of now) and with all the noise I've heard from different sources there will be some sort of 2010 regulation. Regardless of how exactly it goes down, 2009 is going to be more of the same, and that should be way more money for the juniors who go now. But Spikes can do whatever he want- Mel Kiper has him at 23- and I believe first rounders should go. As far as how it effects our defense, of course it hurts if he's gone, but we've got some depth and it's nowhere near the dropoff if Harvin/Tebow left.

Anyway, the point I really wanted to make was about Janoris Jenkins. He's the best player in our secondary, period. If Spikes leaves, there's probably no argument that he's the best player on our defense. And he was a true freshman. Corners get drafted high, so we definitely will be talking about him leaving early in a couple years. Major Wright lights people up, but is still learning to cover. Jenkins stepped right in and can do it all- very impressive.

OK, so right after I posted the last one I found this news item from while I was in New Zealand... link

So there is no cap. Harvin should definitely come back as he can play his way to a top-10 type pick (and with crabtree- rightly- and maclin- wrongly- getting more buzz, he's at best the 3rd highest WR this year), especially when I can't think of any WR for next year's NFL class that would be higher (AJ Green and Julio Jones were both true frosh, right?)

You are correct... It is just so hard for wide receivers to go in the first round that one year could help.

Any news on where Harvin/Murphy could be going?

Harvin is projected to go somewhere around #17 right behind Moreno