Nearly one-quarter of the 21st century has passed, and college football has featured some of the most amazing athletes to ever grace the gridiron over that stretch.
During the first decade, the Florida Gators had one of the most dominant programs in the nation that featured not one but two top players — though one of them ultimately found success elsewhere. ESPN’s staff writer Bill Connelly recently put together a ranking of the top 25 players of the new millennium, with [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag] making the list as well as Cam Newton.
Tebow comes in at No. 6 in the tally, thanks to 9,285 career passing yards and 88 TDs, 2,947 rushing yards and 57 TDs — among other impressive stats.
Breaking down Tim Tebow
“After serving as a short-yardage, red zone specialist during Florida’s 2006 national title run, Tebow moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore and immediately became the sport’s best and most defining player. He won the Heisman in 2007 while combining 3,286 passing yards with 895 rushing yards and 55 total TDs,” Connelly notes.
“He produced 77 more touchdowns in 2008 and ’09, leading Florida to a national title in 2008 and coming up just short in a quest for a third ring as a senior. Does your home stadium have a plaque immortalizing a postgame speech from its starting quarterback? Because Florida’s does.”
Tebow’s key accomplishments
The 2007 Heisman Trophy; 2007 and 2008 Maxwell Award; 2007 Davey O’Brien Award; 2007 AP college football player of the year; 2007 consensus All-American; 2008 and 2009 SEC offensive player of the year; 2007, 2008 and 2009 first-team All-SEC; 2006 and 2008 national champion.
Cam Newton also mentioned
Newton, who began with the Gators but transferred to the Auburn Tigers, where he blossomed into an eventual NFL star, came in ranked third on the list.
“Once considered Tim Tebow’s heir apparent at Florida, Newton landed at Auburn after a controversial departure and controversial recruitment. And he became maybe the best one-year wonder in college football history.”
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