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Audio Interview -- Player Spotlight (01.28.10) -- LISTEN

On Location: Interview With Tim Tebow at the Senior Bowl (01.25.10)

On Location: Interview With Tim Tebow at College Football Hall of Fame Ceremonies

Latest: Tebow has worked with former NFL quarterback Zeke Bratkowski and former NFL quarterbacks coach Marc Trestman to smooth out his throwing motion. He said he plans to work out at the league's scouting combine this month, but would not commit to throwing there.

SCOUT'S TAKE

Pros: Tebow is a big strong athlete that has dominated college football with his pure strength, speed, and determination ever since he was a freshman.

Cons: The Gators legend suffered a scary concussion during his senior season but did manage to return in just two weeks and lead Florida over LSU in typical mythical fashion.

X-Factor: There is going to have to be a lot more evaluation done on Tebow, which will come at the NFL Combine, his Pro Day and any All-Star games he elects to participate in.

2009 Preseason: Everyone knows Tebow’s story—he is a great player and an even better person. He’s won multiple awards, including the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, and will be a favorite to win it again this season. His team has won two national titles and they will also be favored to win it again this season. Last season Tebow threw for 2,746 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions while completing 64.4 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 673 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 3.8 yards a carry.

Our View: Tebow is coming from the spread offense, which is a huge negative for him. Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell didn’t get drafted or sign as a free-agent, and most everyone would agree that Harrell is a better pure passer then Tebow. True, Tebow is bigger, stronger, and a better overall athlete than Harrell, but the question marks are the same. Tebow can play in the NFL, but is not a lock as a first-round pick and a lot more evaluation is needed. That evaluation will come at the NFL combine, his Pro Day, and any All-Star games he participates in.

NEWS

03.02.10 - Six tight ends worked out at the combine, and Tebow’s vertical leap of 38.5 inches would have put him third among those tight ends. His 40-yard dash time of 4.72 seconds is last among those six, but not by much since the bottom three are clustered at 4.69 seconds. We all know he’s strong enough for the position, and his frame — 6-foot-2 3/4, 236 pounds — could put on the necessary weight to be a great blocker. – Orlando Sentinel

02.10.10 - Tebow may be asked to back away, however, or at least redirect his coveted passion to another position, because plenty of NFL scouts see a long-term project at quarterback who may not be able to overcome fundamental issues with his passing mechanics. The biggest two of those are his footwork when he sets up to pass, and his delivery. Having played in the shotgun formation at Florida, Tebow rarely has been asked to work from behind center, to drop back three, five or seven steps as he scans a defense, and throw the ball on time. Tebow carries the ball low as he prepares to throw. He has a long arm swing on his delivery, far closer to a baseball pitch, rather than the quick release required of NFL quarterbacks. And as Tebow tried to show he could deliver the ball more quickly in Mobile, his accuracy suffered. "With the actual release, I think it's OK," Tebow said. "I think there's definitely room for improvement in quickening it, absolutely, but there are other guys playing in the league with similar releases." Asked who he believed those players are, Tebow paused briefly and said, "I don't know." – Denver Post

Senior Bowl Slider: His tendency to hold the ball too low hurt him on at least one of his two fumbles. Tebow appeared hesitant at times and was slow to see open receivers. He was lined way too often in shotgun formation, depriving talent evaluators the opportunity of seeing him operate as a pro-style quarterback. His longest completion was only 11 yards. As a runner, the former Heisman Trophy winner showed no elusiveness with four yards on four carries.

01.31.10 - Florida QB Tim Tebow struggled during Saturday's Senior Bowl but said he is open to modifying his passing motion as he attempts to move to the NFL this spring. Tebow, playing for the South in its 31-13 loss to the North at the college all-star game, was 8-for-12 for 50 yards. He fumbled twice -- on consecutive plays -- and ran four times for 4 yards. After drawing criticism early in the week when Tebow had trouble adjusting to taking snaps under center, the former Heisman Trophy winner said he thought it was a successful week. "I feel like I improved every day," he said. Tebow, who played  in a Florida offense that relied on the shotgun, said he is willing to change his mechanics to fit the pro offenses that would require him to take snaps under center. "I'm definitely open to improving my fundamentals," he said. "I think I showed that by working and improving every day." – USA TODAY

Senior Bowl: Tim Tebow (Florida) had the attention of nearly everyone in the stadium.  It was his time to shine, especially after being a disappointment by all accounts in yesterday’s practice.  His delivery seemed tighter warming up then it did in drills, and he certainly drops the ball too low when he starts to throw.  A majority of Tebow’s passes were off base, and he seemed confused when reading the defense.  His footwork was very bad, and his steps seemed awkward and choppy when he was backing up to pass.  Even his passes to Florida teammate Riley Cooper were off the mark, and several of his passes could have been intercepted.  He did show decent zip on underneath throws, but he was hesitant to throw down field.  When he did throw long it was usually late and wobbly.  Scouts especially didn’t like the way his passes would move around in the air, and his velocity will certainly have to improve at the next level. – Draft Guys (01.26.10)

Senior Bowl: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow had trouble handling the ball while taking his initial reps from under center during the SOUTH practice.. he fumbled the first snap he took and then 5-6 more of the first half of snaps he took from under center... he is still dropping his arm down too low when throwing the football and the trajectory of his ball could lend to issues of having balls batted down at the line of scrimmage at the pro level.  However, it seemed like 70% of the NFL employees in attendance this week were at the SOUTH team practice today and Tebow being present had a lot to with that number being so high... he was 6024, 236 pounds at this morning's weigh-in and might want to tone up and shed a few pounds before the NFL Combine. – January 25, 2010

01.26.10 - The issue of Tim Tebow under center has apparently been made into something bigger than it really is, because Jaguars general manager Gene Smith and a scout from an AFC team both said it wasn’t much of a worry. “Certainly he’s learning as a quarterback, working under center, which I think is going to help him this week,” Smith said. “He did some of that at Florida, too. In the NFL, I tell you there’s a lot of teams that are evolving more to what’s being done at Florida and around the country with more of the spread, shotgun-type offenses. “I don’t think it’s that big of a concern, personally. I just think he’s a guy that will put so much into learning how to do things at a better level that [snaps] will not be a major problem for him.”  The AFC scout, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, just shrugged off the issue. “Some athletic guys can make that transition real easy, so I don’t think it’s a real big deal,” he said. “[Tebow] is a good athlete.” Tebow said he’s been working out with former NFL quarterback Zeke Bratkowski and former NFL quarterbacks coach Marc Trestman. “I’ve worked to improve my mechanics, but I haven’t changed them too much,” Tebow said. – Florida Times-Union

01.20.10 - His college football legacy is secure. But that has done little to solidify his NFL future. Scouts can rattle off concerns regarding the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Tebow: He has taken just about every snap from shotgun formation, has a long windup, throws sort of sidearm, has average arm strength and holds the ball too long at times. Nonetheless, which team drafts him could be more important than anything else. "There's no doubt in my mind that he can play quarterback in the NFL," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "What style of play? The ability to adapt, some coaches are phenomenal at it. Some programs in NFL, you watch them, and they just adapt to who they have. And they win. And so I'm hoping he gets to the right place." – Associated Press

01.18.10 - Jimmy Sexton, a top agent for NFL players and coaches for 25 years, indicated it was one of the greatest career achievements for himself and his company, Memphis-based Athletic Resource Management, to represent Tebow. “We think he will go very high in the first round, when it is all said and done,” Sexton said. Meanwhile, there is talk in the industry that Tebow could be close to a deal to be the face on the cover of EA Sports’ NCAA College 2011 video game, which will be out this summer. – Jacksonville Sports Business Journal

01.15.10 - Tim Tebow’s future includes graduation this month, the NFL draft next June, and undoubtedly some time as the play caller for a pro football team. He’ll return to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, as Danny Wuerffel now does, as a sideline visitor. Tim describes football as his “mission field.” It doesn’t matter, he says, if he fails in the National Football League or never wins a Super Bowl as a professional. “God has given me the opportunity and ability to play football for a specific reason, and that is to share what I believe,” Tim says. “For right now, my mission is here.” — Gainesville Sun

01.01.10 - Tebow threw for a career-high 482 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 51 yards and another score, and fifth-ranked Florida overwhelmed No. 4 Cincinnati 51-24 Friday night in the Sugar Bowl. Tebow set a BCS record for total yardage by an individual player, surpassing Vince Young's legendary 467-yard performance against USC in the '06 title game. "It was incredible," Tebow said. "Just a great game. It was exactly how you want to go out with these seniors and these coaches in your last game and your last time together. It just really doesn't get any better than this."

12.28.09 - Tim Tebow gave a glimpse of things he intends to do after his final game as Florida's quarterback, as far as charity work as he moves on. "With all the Make-a-Wish stuff and Dreams Come True, those are some of my favorite things to do in the world,'' Tebow said. "To make kids feel better and have a special day, it puts a huge smile on my face and theirs. For a kid to say his wish is to spend a day with me, it's extremely humbling and overwhelming. I take a lot of pride in making them feel special. As far as my future, I'm grateful for football and the platform that it's given me, but that's no means to an end. "I want to be involved in a lot of nonprofit (organizations) in other countries and America and start some of my own. Just some examples are that I'd want to start boys and girls ranches, orphanages and things of that nature that can make a difference for kids.'' – Fort Meyers News Press

12.22.09 - Tebow has not decided whether he will participate in the Senior Bowl, the annual showcase for the country’s top senior college football players. The game will be played Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to anybody about it,” Tebow said. “If the people I talk to that are wise think that I should play in it, I’ll go play in it. If they don’t, I won’t. I don’t know.” UF coach Urban Meyer said he and Tebow have spoken briefly about the game but said he won’t advise Tebow until he speaks to several NFL people that he trusts. “I’ll do whatever I need to do [to impress NFL scouts and GMs] — throw out here a million times, I don’t care.” – Florida Times Union

12.10.09 - Former New York Giants quarterback appeared on the Dan Patrick Show and was asked his opinion on Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. "He's going to make it in the NFL as a quarterback. Somebody will take him," Simms said. "I think it's a pretty tough road ahead. I think he has to make some changes as far as how he throws." The Super Bowl MVP went on to question his arm, "It's about the arm," Simms said. "It's about the arm. Let's just get over that. . . . It's not a powerful arm, by no means. It's not quick. He's just really got to control the football better. He doesn't control it as well as he should to really be a top-flight NFL quarterback, but that can change." – The Dan Patrick Show

12.08.09 - University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, arguably one of the most decorated players in college football history, became the 20th recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, at The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's Annual Awards Dinner in New York City tonight.

12.07.09 - Florida governor Gov. Charlie Crist thinks Tim Tebow could be the answer to the Jacksonville Jaguars attendance problems. Crist said Monday that he's talked with the Jaguars ownership about taking the celebrated Florida quarterback in the NFL draft next April as a means to sell more season tickets and keep the team from moving out of Jacksonville. About 17,000 fans chose not to renew their season tickets this year, many citing the economic climate. About 30,000 seats were empty Sunday for Jacksonville's 23-18 victory over Houston. Tebow, who grew up in Jacksonville, won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and led the Gators to a national championship last year. - SI.com

11.29.09 - NBC's Peter King reported during Football Night in America that he has spoken to 17 coaches and personnel executives over the past month, and that he has asked for predictions as to the precise spot at which Florida quarterback Tim Tebow will be drafted. The average draft position amongst those polled was 33rd overall. King went on to say that two coaches of "winning teams" said Tebow won't get past their selections in round one.

11.28.09 - In an interview this week with Sporting News, Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson said Tebow isn't an NFL quarterback. "I don't think Tebow can play in a pro-style offense, not as a quarterback," the ex-Dallas Cowboys coach said. "I think that a team that looks at Tebow will have to make one of two decisions. If they are going to bring him into their style of play, with their coaching staff, they will have to project him to be maybe an H-back, a receiver, a tight end, but he will have to play another position. He can't play quarterback. Now, if you are going to take Tim Tebow and you are going to say 'he is going to be our QB,' you might as well get rid of your coaching staff and hire a spread offense coach. So bring Urban Meyer with him and run that style of offense if he's going to be your QB because he can't play in a pro-style offense."

11.20.09 - Four of 10 experts told the Orlando Sentinel this week that Tebow's professional stock likely has been damaged by this year's performance, at least for now. The informal poll is composed of six draft analysts, one NFL personnel executive, one NFL scout, one former NFL general manager and one NFL sports agent. Tebow has thrown for 1,730 yards, 12 touchdowns with four interceptions and a career-high 23 sacks through 10 games. Charley Casserly, former Houston Texans executive and now NFL Network analyst, said he would want to work out Tebow at positions other than quarterback. "I have my doubts," said Casserly about his quarterbacking. "It's accuracy. I think he has a big windup … His overall motion release, accuracy, those things he can't work on because he's not in a pro-style offense. – Orlando Sentinel

11.05.09 - Florida fans finally got the Heisman-type game they want from Tebow. The senior from Jacksonville was very impressive with over 200 yards of offense and four total touchdowns as the Gators demolished Georgia. In addition to his passing duties at quarterback, Tebow is Florida’s leading rusher with 551 yards on the season.

09.28.09 - Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is back home after spending the night in the hospital with a concussion. How long before he plays again is now the big question facing the Gators.

01.11.09 - Tim Tebow ended weeks of speculation and announced his comeback with the Florida Gators for his senior season. Tebow made his eloquent speech at the celebration for the National Title and laughed off the more than 40,000 people in the crowd that were chanting "one more year." After his speech was over he started to walk off the stage. He then paused, turned around and grabbed the microphone to say "Oh, by the way, let's do it again. I'm coming back." He'll improve his NFL odds by sticking around and working with new quarterback coach Scott Loeffler.

01.10.09 - The NFL Draft Bible reports that Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has received mix grades from the NFL Draft Board Committee. Some scouts view him as high as a late first-rounder. Other evaluations had him as low as a third round grade.

01.09.09 - After winning a second National Championship on Thursday night, Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow was still contemplating returning for his senior season. “You know what, I don’t know I’m gonna have to sit down and look at it,” Tebow said. He has a week to decide. The deadline for juniors to declare for the 2009 NFL Draft is January 15th. Tebow finished 18-of-30 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns against No. 2 Oklahoma. He had the first two-interception game of his career, but made up for it by running 22 times for 109 yards and showing more energy than anyone else in Florida’s 24-14 victory in the Bowl Championship Series national title game.

01.06.09 - The 2009 BCS National Championship game will feature a match-up between the current and previous Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O'Brien) Winners. Sam Bradford, the 2008 O'Brien Winner, and the Oklahoma Sooners will square off against the Florida Gators led by the 2007 O'Brien Winner, Tim Tebow, Thursday night in Miami, Fla.

12.29.08 - There isn't too much that can be said about Tim Tebow that already hasn't been said already. His 2007 numbers speak for themselves. Tebow threw for 3,286 yards with 32 touchdowns and only eight picks and rushed for 895 yards and an amazing 23 touchdowns. His lofty numbers helped Tebow become the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. Tebow has slowed down some this season in terms of numbers, but he has still been solid for the Gators. He has thrown for 2,515 yards with 28 touchdowns and rushed for 564 yards and 12 touchdowns. Maybe the most impressive stat is that Tebow had thrown only two picks in 2008. The 2008 Maxwell Award winner has said he will petition the NFL Advisory Committee for an evaluation and will make a decision on his future after that.

12.15.08 - “Either they love us or they hate us…that’s Florida.”

That was Tim Tebow’s reasoning for finishing third in the Heisman voting despite garnering the most first place votes:

Sam Bradford = 300 First Place Votes
Colt McCoy = 266 First Place Votes
Tim Tebow = 309 First Place Votes

Tebow may have a point. Many genuflect at whatever the Gators’ signal caller does, sometimes to his detriment – the excessive praise likely turns others off – and like it or not, the Heisman is at least partially a popularity contest. Tebow has learned that sometimes being the man on the pedestal generates – to use his words – more hate than love.

Tebow believes the “Hate-orade” for the Gators was amped up during the (Steve) Spurrier days, but does not blame the former ball coach for missing out on a second Heisman Trophy.

Where Sam Bradford (and Colt McCoy) surpassed Tebow was in the second place voting and the voting west of the Mississippi (see chart below):

Sam Bradford = 315 Second Place Votes
Colt McCoy = 288 Second Place Votes
Tim Tebow = 207 Second Place Votes

8.01.08 - The dual threat quarterback accumulated an unprecedented 55 touchdowns combined passing and rushing (first player ever in college football history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns). However, his propensity to take off running and tendency to dive headfirst could be detrimental in the long run. He will need to use better judgment in avoiding unnecessary hits. An underrated aspect of his game is Tebow’s mental prowess. The Gators signal caller can dissect opposing defenses better than given credit for and has a cannon arm to boost. His accuracy has been questioned due to the various dink and dunk passes involved in the Florida passing attack. Tebow has the makeup of a star quarterback with his size and arm strength. He possesses great leadership on the field and was All Academic off it. His ability to do damage with the football tucked, makes him an extremely dangerous weapon and a difference maker on offense. His main flaws can be fixed rather easily with the proper coaching. Tebow is considered by some to be the best college football player in the nation. He certainly has stated a strong case for that argument becoming the first underclassmen to ever win the Heisman Trophy (2007).

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