Brandon Spikes named Parade All-American

From the Shelby Star


Crest's Spikes named to Parade All-America team
Randy Capps
Assistant Sports Editor

Postseason awards keep coming for Crest senior linebacker Brandon Spikes.

The latest for the 6-4, 235-pounder is a spot on the 43rd annual Parade All-America High School Football team. Spikes was one of 58 players nationwide to earn a spot on the squad. Southern Durham’s Carl Johnson was the only other player from North Carolina to make the list.

It’s been an award-heavy postseason for Spikes, who’s already earned a spot on The Star’s All-Cleveland County team, a Shrine Bowl nomination and Associated Press All-State team honors.

So it’s understandable that he hadn’t heard about making the Parade list until told by a reporter on Wednesday.

“It’s a big honor,” Spikes said. “I’ve never heard about it, so it’s kind of out of nowhere. I guess I feel good about it.”

His high school coach, Roy Kirby, was happy for his former player. “I think he’s very deserving of it,” Kirby said. “He showed in his play at the Shrine Bowl that he can play with the best of the best, so he’s definitely worthy of the Parade selection.”

Spikes missed three games because of nagging injuries this season, but still had 88 tackles, including 12 for loss, three sacks and three interceptions.

One more postseason accolade awaits Spikes as he will compete in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. There will be 34 other members of the Parade All-America team playing in the event.

“I’ve been looking forward to that ever since they came to the school,” Spikes said of his trip to Texas next week. “I can’t wait to get out there and compete with all those great players. I want to see San Antonio, too. I hear it’s really nice.”

Recruiting analysts and college coaches will be tuned in to NBC, where the game will be shown live, to watch Spikes reveal his college choice during the game. He’s narrowed the choices to Virginia Tech, Alabama and Florida.

20669 - 12/30/2005 - CH

 

Proud of him!

Hope he becomes a Hokie though!

 

congrats to the local for the national recognition...........

 

think he might go to Bama?

 

Brandon left yesterday for San Antonio. We'll find out Sat. where he's heading.

 

The minute he crosses the state line to play football where ever, he is one of them not one of us..... Go NC football!!

 

Cougarman, I agree.

:banginghe Why can’t Spikes stay here in NC and play football. Mack Brown thanked not only Texas the University, but Texas High School Football for his success. This should ring loud and clear with all Tarheels. Brown started coaching for real at App State and then UNC. Duh-Huh!!! This state has plenty of good talent. UNC, NC State, Wake, and Duke are great schools. Are these athletes afraid to work for a winning season?

 

But these kids want to see that progress is being made. I have heard from many that after fact...if UNC had won 7 games Brandon would have been a Tarheel. I would love to see these kids stay home as well, but you can't fault them for wanting to play for a winner. That is why the rich get richer and it's uphill battle to shed a perception of losing.

And I think Prowler makes a great point. NC schools need to stay in these kids faces. I'm a firm believer that if you recruit home first, you will be successful. That is my problem with Gardner Webb, there's not much better football played than in a 50 mile radius of the GWU campus. Recuit these kids and you get winners, no not the big timers, but kids that may be a little undersized or a little slow for the big schols, and your fan support goes out the roof which only helps your program even more.