Takeo Gerard Spikes is a NFL linebacker on the San Francisco 49ers. Takeo's first name is pronounced "tuh-KEE-oh," and means "great warrior" in Japanese. His hometown is Sandersville, Ga., where he attended Washington County High School. Playing varsity football for the Golden Hawks, Takeo earned All-American honors from Parade and USA Today during his prep career and was named Georgia's "Mr. Football" by state coaches as a senior. He was also named Georgia Player of the Year as a prep senior by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He headed to Auburn University where he continued to excel on the football field, and was drafted 13th overall in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals after his junior season with the Tigers. Takeo was a Liberal Arts major at Auburn. He has one daughter named Jakai, meaning "beautiful flower" in Japanese. Takeo, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has also played for the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles in his career.
