Blaine Gabbert

Jacksonville drafted Gabbert with the 10th Pick of the 2011 NFL Draft
No. 11     Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1989-10-15) October 15, 1989 (age 22)
Place of birth: Ballwin, Missouri
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Weight: 233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
College: Missouri
NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
Debuted in 2011 for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Career history
Jacksonville Jaguars (2011–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
U.S. Army All-America honors (2007) Broke Jaguars record for most rookie starts at QB (2011)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Pass attempts 413 Pass completions 210 Percentage 50.8 TD–INT 12-11 Passing yards 2,214 QB Rating 64.3 Stats at NFL.com

Blaine Gabbert (born October 15, 1989) is an American football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Missouri Tigers before leaving early for the 2011 NFL draft after his junior year. Jacksonville selected him in the first round with the 10th pick overall.

Early years[link]

Gabbert was born in Ballwin, Missouri and attended Parkway West High School, where he played high school football. He recorded 623 passing yards and five touchdowns as a senior, despite an injured foot that limited him to four games.^{[citation needed]} As a junior, he posted 1,523 yards and 20 touchdowns (on 119-of-231 passing) and also added another 458 yards rushing and 8 TDs.^{[citation needed]} In his sophomore season, he threw for approximately 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns as a first-year starter.^{[citation needed]}

College career[link]

Coming out of high school in 2008, Gabbert was considered a major college recruitment prospect. Rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Gabbert was listed as the number 1 pro-style quarterback in the nation.^[1] He initially gave a verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, but rethought his decision after head coach Bill Callahan was fired.^[2] He eventually committed to the University of Missouri.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel decided not to redshirt Gabbert his freshman year, but instead play him as the third-string quarterback behind Chase Daniel and Chase Patton.^[3] Gabbert had a strong debut in 2009, throwing for 313 yards with three touchdowns in the air and another one on the ground against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the annual Arch Rivalry.^{[citation needed]} In January 2011, Gabbert announced that he would forgo his senior year to enter the 2011 NFL Draft.^[4]

College stats[link]

Blaine Gabbert as the quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars

Professional career[link]

On April 28, 2011 Gabbert was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft with the 10th overall pick. Jacksonville traded up six spots with the Washington Redskins to select Gabbert.^[7] On July 28, 2011, Gabbert officially signed his contract to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The deal is worth $12 million over 4 years.^[8]

Gabbert played in his first NFL regular season game on September 18, 2011 against the New York Jets. He was then named starter against the Carolina Panthers on September 25, 2011 beginning the Gabbert era of Jacksonville football.

Gabbert struggled in his rookie season. He was sacked 40 times, third most of any quarterback in the league. He fumbled 14 times, most in the league by a quarterback.^[9] His 50.8% completion percentage was second-worst in the league for passers with more than 200 attempts (ahead of only Tim Tebow's 46.5%). His 5.4 yards per attempt was last in the league among qualifying passers, as was his 65.4 passer rating.^[10] Football Outsiders calculated that Gabbert's 2011 season was "with the fifth worst season we've ever measured" in aggregate value.^[11]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Missouri Tigers football bio
• College Statistics at totalfootballstats.com
• ESPN Profile
• Jacksonville Jaguars Bio

Justin Blackmon

Justin Blackmon being interviewed after the Oklahoma State comeback against Texas A&M, 2011.
No. 14     Jacksonville Jaguars
Wide Receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: (1990-01-09) January 9, 1990 (age 22)
Place of birth: Oceanside, California
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Ardmore (OK) Plainview
College: Oklahoma State
NFL Draft: 2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
No regular season or postseason appearances
Career history
Jacksonville Jaguars (2012–present)
Roster status: Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards
Fiesta Bowl MVP (2012) 2× Biletnikoff Award (2010, 2011) 2× Consensus All-American (2010, 2011) First-team All-Big 12 (2010, 2011) Paul Warfield Trophy (2010) Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2010)
Career NFL statistics
Stats at NFL.com

Justin Blackmon (born January 9, 1990) is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, and was twice recognized as an All-American. Considered the best wide receiver in his class, Jacksonville traded up two spots to select him with the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.^[1][2]

Early years[link]

Blackmon was born in Oceanside, California. He attended Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma,^[3] where he caught 61 passes covering 1,547 yards as a senior with 14 touchdowns. Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Blackmon was listed as the No. 91 wide receiver prospect in the class of 2008.^[4]

College career[link]

Blackmon was named the 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the first receiver to earn the honor.^[5] On December 9, 2010, he was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.^[6] Blackmon also holds the NCAA records for most consecutive games gaining 100 Yards or More and most games gaining 200 Yards or more.^[7] Statistically, Blackmon caught 102 passes for 1,665 yards and 18 touchdowns in 11 games during the 2010 regular season and also added a pair of scores with a 69-yard run and a blocked punt return. This performance earned him the 15th-best season in NCAA history.^[8]

Blackmon finished the 2011 regular season with 121 catches for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. He led the Big 12 in receiving and ranked second nationally in both receptions per game and total receptions. His 15 touchdown catches led the league and represented the third-highest total in the nation. For the second consecutive year, he earned the title of unanimous All-American. Despite the extreme defensive game plans geared specifically at stopping him, he emerged as the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver for the second consecutive season. He joined former Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree as the only players ever to win the Biletnikoff Award more than once.^[9]

Blackmon announced at the 2012 Fiesta Bowl that he would declare for the NFL draft that year. He caught 8 passes for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game.^[10] He was also named the 2012 Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP.^[11]

Professional career[link]

2012 NFL Draft[link]

Blackmon decided not to participate in any workouts at the NFL Combine, but he managed to erase questions about his long speed at the Oklahoma State Pro Day.^[12] He was considered the best wide receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft, and was predicted to go early in the first round.^[1][13] He has been compared to Anquan Boldin.^[14] He was ultimately drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fifth pick in the first round of the draft. Jacksonville traded up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to draft him, exchanging their number seven selection and a fourth round pick for Tampa Bay's spot.^[2] Blackmon is the highest selected Oklahoma State Cowboy since Barry Sanders in 1989.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Justin Blackmon

• Jacksonville Jaguars bio
• Oklahoma State Cowboys bio

Look up motherfucker in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Motherfucker (sometimes abbreviated as mofo, mf, or mf'er) is an American vulgarism. Its literal sense, referring to one who participates in sexual intercourse with a mother, either someone else's, or his own is seldom implied. Rather, it refers to a mean, despicable, or vicious person, or any particularly difficult or frustrating situation or alternatively as an inverted praise of the individual or thing's "badness". Due to the semiotics, it is not generally applied personally to females, a personal direct object referred to as such is invariably male.^[1]

Variants[link]

Like many widely used offensive terms, motherfucker has a large list of minced oaths. Motherhumper, motherfugger, mother f'er, mothersucker, motherlover, mofo, motherflower, motherkisser and many more are sometimes used in polite company or to avoid censorship.^[2] The participle motherfucking is often used as an emphatic, in the same way as the less strong fucking. The verb to motherfuck also exists, although it is less common. Conversely, when paired with an adjective, it can become a term denoting such things as originality and masculinity, as in the related phrase "bad ass mother fucker".

Look up BAMF in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Usually the word 'motherfucker' is used in place of a noun in a sentence, such as: That trig problem was a real motherfucker.

Almost always, the word does not actually imply that someone has had sex with his own or another person's mother. Instead it is understood as a swear word, related to the usage of parent word "fuck."

The word is also commonly used as an expletive. For example if a person is told an incredible tale or description of an event they may respond with "Motherfucker" said slowly.

Popular culture[link]

The word appears in George Carlin's Seven Words You Can't Say on Television. In one HBO special, he comments that at one point, someone asked him to remove it, since, as a derivative of the word "fuck," it constituted a duplication.^[3] He later added it back, claiming that the bit's rhythm doesn't work without it.^[3]

Kurt Vonnegut's classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five has, since its original publication, been challenged in libraries and schools on the grounds that the word is used occasionally by the soldiers in the story. Vonnegut later joked in a speech, published in the collection Fates Worse Than Death, that "Ever since that word was published, way back in 1969, children have been attempting to have intercourse with their mothers. When it will stop no one knows."^[4]

Richard Pryor used to the word frequently in his skits. Sometimes, in a, perhaps almost ironic fashion, he even used it with a sense of endearment. ^[5]

The word has become something of a catchphrase for Samuel L. Jackson, who frequently utters the word in his movies.^[6]

The Motherfucker with the Hat is a 2011 Broadway play.

Literature[link]

The Compleat Motherfucker: A History of the Mother of All Dirty Words by Jim Dawson^[7] is a history of the word in black culture and in American literature, film, comedy and music.

References[link]

Brian Cushing

Cushing in 2010.
No. 56     Houston Texans
Inside linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1987-01-24)January 24, 1987
Place of birth: Park Ridge, New Jersey
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight: 248 lb (112 kg)
Career information
College: Southern California
NFL Draft: 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15
Debuted in 2009 for the Houston Texans
Career history
Houston Texans (2009–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
College awards and honors Professional awards and honors AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2009) PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year (2009) 1× Pro Bowl selection (2009) 2× All-Pro selection (2009, 2011) SN, PFWA's All-Rookie Selection (2009) Houston Texan's Team MVP (2011)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Tackles 323 Sacks 9.5 INTs 6 Fumbles Forced 5 Stats at NFL.com

Brian Cushing (born January 24, 1987) is a professional American football inside linebacker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Cushing was selected in the 1st round (15th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Texans. He played college football at the University of Southern California.

Early years[link]

Cushing is one of three children of Irish/Polish descent. His mother was born in Germany and his father was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. His brother Michael was a rugby player at Providence College, who earned 1st Team All American Honors. Cushing trained throughout his childhood in Park Ridge, New Jersey. Cushing attended Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey and went on to lead the Crusaders to the 2004 Group IV State Championship as a linebacker, tight end, and running back against Don Bosco Preparatory High School, providing huge plays in the 13-10 win.^[1] He was named "2004 North Jersey Player of the Year" by The Record (Bergen County).^[2] and played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl alongside future USC teammates Patrick Turner, Rey Maualuga and Mark Sanchez.^{[citation needed]}

Cushing was recruited by top colleges such as the University of Florida, University of Virginia, Notre Dame, and Boston College, before ultimately committing to the University of Southern California. Cushing was a four year starter who also started in four Rose Bowls. Only two players have ever done this; Archie Griffin (two time Heisman Trophy winner) from Ohio State University was the other.^{[citation needed]}

College career[link]

Cushing celebrating a 2006 victory over Stanford; during the season he played the "Elephant" position in the 4-3 under defense used that year.

Cushing attended USC and played for the Trojan football team (2005-2008 seasons) under head coach Pete Carroll and Linebacker Coach Ken Norton Jr. Cushing shared the #10 jersey with Trojan starting quarterback John David Booty from 2005 to 2007.

Cushing was on the 2007 preseason Phil Steele's All-America team and on the 2007 Bednarik Award and Lott Trophy watch lists.

Cushing returned a failed onside kick attempted by Notre Dame at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a late fourth-quarter touchdown on November 25, 2006.

On January 1, 2007, Cushing was named the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl Game, after recording 2½ sacks and forcing a third-quarter fumble that changed the momentum of the game.^[3]

Cushing was named AP 2nd Team All-American as a senior despite having pedestrian statistics (73 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, & 3 sacks.). NFL scouts didn't admire Cushing for his stats, but for his versatility. Fast enough to play inside and outside linebacker and big and strong enough to play defensive end. Cushing was the most versatile defensive player in the draft. He also shocked NFL scouts by benching 225 lbs 30 times.

Cushing was one of twelve senior USC players, including the four senior linebackers Cushing, Kaluka Maiava, Clay Matthews III and Rey Maualuga, invited to the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine.^[4] He also participated in the 2009 Senior Bowl with Maualuga, Matthews, Patrick Turner and others. Alongside fellow USC linebackers Maualuga and Matthews, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2009 NFL Draft Preview magazine, as all three were regarded as potential first round selections.^[5]

College awards and honors[link]

• 2005 Scout.com Freshman All American All-American^[6]
• 2006 All-Pac-10 Second-team^[7]
• 2007 All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention^[8]
• 2007 Rose Bowl Defensive MVP^[9]
• 2008 All-Pac-10 First-team selection by the conference's head coaches^[10] and Rivals.com^[11]
• 2008 Rivals.com First-team All-American^[12]
• 2008 SI.com First-team All-American^[13]
• 2008 AP.com First-team All-American^[14]

Professional career[link]

2009 NFL Draft[link]

Houston Texans[link]

Cushing was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans and had one of the best defensive seasons by a rookie in NFL history.

He scored his first career points on October 4, 2009 when he recorded a safety against the Oakland Raiders. The safety was the first recorded by a Texan since the 2002 season.^[15]

Cushing was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6 of the 2009 NFL Season. Cushing became the first rookie to earn the award in the season.^[16] In Week 8, Cushing was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week again, becoming the first Texans rookie to win the award twice in one season.^[17] Cushing was also named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for November.^[18]

Cushing finished tied with Ray Lewis for the AFC lead with 133 tackles & added 4 sacks, 10 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, & 2 forced fumbled. He was selected to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a starter. Cushing was one of three rookies to make it to the Pro Bowl,^[19] another being a former USC teammate.

On January 5, 2010, Cushing was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Cushing is the second Texan to win the award, the first being DeMeco Ryans in 2006.^[20]

On May 7, 2010, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Cushing would be suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for a positive test in September 2009 violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy for having above normal levels of hCG, a hormone, in his system. Cushing had previously denied rumors of his using performance-enhancing substances prior to being drafted. Cushing still denies that he ever ingested or injected any performance enhancers and claimed the test result could have been from a cancerous tumor. Cushing then stated that he would undergo further medical tests to determine how hCg entered his system.^[21]

On May 12, 2010, in a revote of the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award after his suspension was made public, Cushing received the most votes again, retaining his award. His second team All-Pro status from his rookie season, however, was rescinded by the AP. Cushing is the 1st player ever to have a revote, even though several other players in the NFL's past history have had similar violations during their rookie season.[33]

Cushing was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for testing positive for banned substances. In the final 12 games, he totaled 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble.

During training camp heading into the 2011 season, Cushing was told that he would be switching from outside to inside linebacker due to the new 3-4 defense. They believed that he would not have the quickness to get to the outside. All through high school and college Cushing was always an outside linebacker. No one knew how he would adjust.

In 2011, the Houston Texans finished the season with a 10-6 record and made it to the playoffs for the first time in team history. Cushing was named Team MVP and while he wasn't voted to the Pro-Bowl he earned AP 2nd Team All-Pro honors after finishing the season with 114 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. Houston Texans defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, called Cushing a "holy phenom" and also said that "he's one of the best I've ever coached, and I've been at it a long time." Cushing said that he will use the fact that he did not make the Pro-Bowl as "motivation and a driving force" to become better. The Texans defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10 in the first round but were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens 20-13 in the Divisional Round.

NFL awards and honors[link]

• 2x AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month (November 2009 & December 2009)^[18]
• 2x AFC Defensive Player of the Week (2009 weeks 6 & 8)^[22]
• 2009 AFC Defensive Player of the Month of November
• 2009 Pro Bowl selection (starter)
• 2009 SN-2nd Team All-Pro
• 2009 All-Rookie Selection (Sporting News, Pro Football Writers Association)
• 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
• 2011 Team Captain
• 2011 Team MVP
• 2011 AP-2nd Team All-Pro

References[link]

External links[link]

• Brian Cushing Official Website
• Houston Texans Brian Cushing biodata
• USC Trojans Brian Cushing bio

Tim Tebow

Tebow warming up before a game in January 2012
No. 15     New York Jets
Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1987-08-14) August 14, 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth: Makati City, Philippines
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight: 245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
College: Florida
NFL Draft: 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25
Debuted in 2010 for the Denver Broncos
Career history
Denver Broncos (2010–2011) New York Jets (2012–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
2× BCS National Championship (2007, 2009) 2× SEC Championship (2006, 2008) 2× First-team All-American (2007, 2008) Second-team All-American (2009) 3× First-team All-SEC (2007, 2008, 2009) AP Player of the Year (2007) Davey O'Brien Award (2007) 2× Maxwell Award (2007, 2008) Heisman Trophy (2007) Quarterback of the Year (2007) SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2008) Manning Award (2008) William V. Campbell Trophy (2009) Other awards and honors
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
TD–INT 17–9 Passing yards 2,383 Passer rating 75.1 Rushing yards 887 Rushing TDs 12 Stats at NFL.com

Timothy Richard Tebow ( /ˈtiːboʊ/; born August 14, 1987) is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Florida, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and appearing on BCS National Championship-winning teams in the 2006 and 2008 seasons. After graduating, he was drafted by the Denver Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Tebow is known as a dual threat quarterback, adept at both rushing and passing the football. With his unorthodox NFL quarterback skills, frequent demonstrations of his religious devotion, and his team's success, Tebow has attracted unprecedented praise, criticism, and attention from the sporting media and beyond. Commenting on Tebow's play and the attention he has garnered, many football players and observers have said that they "have never seen anything like it."^[1][2][3][4]

Tebow played quarterback for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and was ranked among the top quarterback prospects in the nation as a high school senior.^[5] He ultimately chose to attend the University of Florida. As a backup and situational quarterback,^[6] Tebow helped the Gators win the national championship during the 2006 college football season. Tebow was the Gators' starting quarterback during the 2007 season when he became the first college sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.^[7] In 2008, Tebow led Florida to a 13-1 record and its second national championship in three years, and was named the offensive MVP of the national championship game. The Gators again went 13–1 in 2009, Tebow's senior year. At the conclusion of his college career, he held the Southeastern Conference's all-time records in both career passing efficiency and total rushing touchdowns, appearing second and tenth (respectively) in the NCAA record book in these categories.^[8]

Tebow was selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. He started the last three games of his rookie season and became the Broncos' full-time starting quarterback beginning in the 6th game of 2011. The team was 1–4 before Tebow became the starter, but immediately began winning with him on the field, often by coming from behind late in the 4th quarter, until they won their first AFC West title and first playoff game since 2005.

Tim Tebow is known for sharing his Christian faith with fans and in clinics, hospitals, market places, schools, and orphanages.^[9][10]

Early years[link]

Tebow at the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl as a high school senior.

Tebow was born in Makati City in the Philippines, to American parents who were serving as Baptist missionaries at the time. His mother, Pamela Elaine (née Pemberton), is the daughter of a U.S. Army colonel, and his father, Robert Ramsey Tebow II, is a pastor.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16]} While pregnant, his mother suffered a life-threatening infection with a pathogenic amoeba. Because of the drugs used to rouse her from a coma and to treat her dysentery, the fetus experienced a severe placental abruption. Doctors had expected a stillbirth and recommended an abortion, even though illegal in the Philippines, to protect her life,^[11] but she decided not to have one.

Tebow is the youngest of five children.^[17] All of the Tebow children were homeschooled by their mother, who worked to instill the family's Christian beliefs along the way.^[13] In 1996, legislation was passed in Florida allowing homeschooled students to compete in local high school sporting events. The law specifies that homeschooled students may participate on the team of the local school in the school district in which they live.^[18] The Tebows lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and he played linebacker and tight end at the local Trinity Christian Academy for one season. Tebow's preferred position was quarterback, but Trinity football team's offense did not rely on passing the football, so he moved into an apartment in nearby St. Johns County, making him eligible to play for the pass-oriented offense at Nease. His performance soon turned heads and led to a minor controversy regarding the fact that he was a home-schooled student having his choice of school to play for.^[19]

Tebow came into national prominence as a junior at Florida's 4A Nease High School. Tebow was soon known not only for his running and throwing, but for his intense competitiveness and uncommon physical courage. Later that same year, he suffered an injury to his right leg late in the first half of a game. Originally thought by the Nease coaching staff to be a bad cramp, he played the entire second half with a broken fibula, at one point rushing for a 29-yard touchdown. After the game the extent of the injury was discovered and he was held out for the remainder of his junior season.^[20] Nevertheless he was named Florida's Player of the Year and became a major college football quarterback prospect.^[21] During his senior season he led the Nease Panthers to a state title, earned All-State honors, was named Florida's Mr. Football and a Parade magazine high school All-American, and repeated as Florida's Player of the Year.^[21][22] Tebow played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas which featured the top 78 senior high school football players in the nation and was shown nationally on NBC television.^[23]

Tebow was considered one of the nation's top recruits and was the subject of an ESPN "Faces in Sports" documentary. The segment was titled "Tim Tebow: The Chosen One", and focused on Tim's homeschool controversy and missionary work in the Philippines, as well as his exploits on the field of play and the college recruiting process.^[24] Tim Tebow was also featured in Sports Illustrated on the "Faces in the Crowd" page.^[25] In 2007 he was named to FHSAA's All-Century Team that listed the Top 33 football players in the state of Florida's 100 year history of high school football.^[26]

Despite having family ties to the University of Florida, where his parents first met as students,^[27] Tebow considered other schools, including Alabama.^[28] One of the reasons he gave for eventually choosing Florida was coach Urban Meyer's spread option offense, an offense for which Tebow was deemed an archetypal quarterback.^[29]

Tebow spent the three summers prior to enrolling at the University of Florida in the Philippines, assisting with his father's orphanage and missionary work.^[30]

Effect on homeschooling movement[link]

On January 7, 2007, Tebow was featured prominently in an ESPN "Outside The Lines" feature on homeschooled athletes seeking equal access to high school athletics in other states. Because a homeschooler's access to public and private school athletic functions vary by state, Tebow and New York Jets defensive end Jason Taylor (who was allowed to play at his local high school in Pennsylvania) argue in favor of extending the right to play for local teams to more states.^[31]

Upon becoming the first home-schooled athlete to be nominated for the Heisman Trophy, Tebow remarked, "That's really cool. A lot of times people have this stereotype of homeschoolers as not very athletic – it's like, go win a spelling bee or something like that – it's an honor for me to be the first one to do that."^[32]

Tebow's example inspired equal access supporters in other states, including Alabama and Kentucky.^[33][34][35] Tebow received the 2008 Quaqua Protégé Award as an outstanding home-education graduate.^[36]

College career[link]

Tebow received an athletic scholarship to attend and play for the Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2009.^[37] While he spent his freshman year as a backup, eventual career highlights at Florida include winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007, leading the team to a BCS championship in 2008, and a 13–1 2009 season. The Gators coaches selected him as a team captain in 2008 and 2009, and he is the only three-time recipient of the Gators' most valuable player award, having been chosen by his teammates in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

2006[link]

Despite a strong showing in his first intersquad scrimmage, Coach Urban Meyer named Tebow second string behind Chris Leak.^[38] Although Tebow remained the backup throughout the season, Tebow was a significant contributor to the Gators' 2006 success.

Tebow made his college debut coming off the bench in a goal line situation against Southern Miss. He rushed for a touchdown on a designed quarterback scramble on his first play.^[39] In his next game, he led the team in rushing yards against UCF.^[40]

Tebow made his SEC debut against the Tennessee Volunteers on September 16. His performance included a ten-yard run on his first carry and converting a critical fourth down near the end of the game, which led to the Gators' go-ahead touchdown.^[41] Tebow's biggest game in the season came against the LSU Tigers on October 7, where he accounted for all three of the Gators' touchdowns, passing for two and rushing for another.^[42] Tebow played a role in the Gators' victory in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game against Ohio State. He threw for one touchdown and rushed for another, finishing with 39 rushing yards.^[43] He finished 2006 with the second-most rushing yards on the Gator team.^[44]

2007[link]

Tebow (on right) and other Gator QBs during pre-game warm-ups.

Although questions about his passing skill loomed, Tebow was named the Florida Gators starting quarterback for the 2007 season.^[45] He opened the year 13-of-17 for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in his starting debut against Western Kentucky University.^[46] Tebow finished the regular season with the second highest passing efficiency in the nation with 177.8. Additionally, he averaged 4.3 yards per carry on the ground.^[47]

Tebow set numerous personal, school and national records in the 2007 season, including:

• University of Florida single-game quarterback rushing yards, 166, week 4^[48]
• SEC season rushing touchdown record, 20^[49]
• Career high single game rushing touchdowns, 5, Nov. 10
• SEC season total touchdowns (passing and rushing), 55^[50]

On November 24, against the Florida State Seminoles, Tebow threw for three touchdowns and rushed for two in a 45–12 rout of the Seminoles. It was later revealed that Tebow fractured his right hand during the third quarter but played the rest of the game. He had to wear a cast for the next three weeks.^[51]

After the 2007 season was over, Tebow was recognized as a first-team All-SEC selection and a consensus first-team All-American,^[52] and won the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding college football player of the year. He also received the Davey O'Brien Award, annually given to the best quarterback in the nation, on February 18 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Heisman Trophy[link]

Tebow in 2007

On December 8, 2007, Tebow was awarded the Heisman Trophy, finishing ahead of Arkansas's Darren McFadden, Hawaii's Colt Brennan, and Missouri's Chase Daniel. He was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.^[20] He garnered 462 first-place votes and 1,957 points, 254 points ahead of the runner-up, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.^[53][54] He finished the regular season as the only player in FBS history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in both categories in the same season.^[55] He had 32 passing touchdowns, and 23 rushing touchdowns. Tebow's rushing TD total in the 2007 season is the most recorded for any position in SEC history.^[56] The total also set the record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in FBS history. Tebow became the third UF player to win the Heisman Trophy, joining Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel.^[57]

2008[link]

Before the 2007 season had even come to a close, Florida coach Urban Meyer stated that he would likely use two quarterbacks during the 2008 season to take some of the workload off of Tebow's shoulders.^[58] Tebow led the Gators in rushing in 2007^[59] but also had to play through a bruised shoulder and broken non-throwing hand.^[58]

Before the 2008 season even started, Tebow had his name pulled from consideration for the Playboy Preseason All-American team because it conflicted with his Christian beliefs.^[60]

On November 1, 2008, playing against the Georgia Bulldogs, Tebow ran for his 37th rushing touchdown, breaking the school record previously held by former Florida running back Emmitt Smith.

Tebow led the Gators to a 12–1 record in 2008. After clinching the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title, the team played for and won the SEC title in the 2008 SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The win secured the #2 ranking in the final BCS standings, which earned the Gators the chance to play the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game, which they won 24–14.

Tebow finished third in the 2008 Heisman Trophy voting, with Oklahoma's Sam Bradford taking the top spot followed by Texas' Colt McCoy, despite Tebow receiving the most first-place votes.^[61][62] Tebow also won the Maxwell Award in 2008, becoming only the second player to win the award twice.^[63]

On January 11, 2009, at a national championship celebration held at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Tebow announced that he would not make himself eligible for the 2009 NFL Draft, but would instead return for his senior season at Florida.^[64] One day later, he had surgery on his right shoulder to remove a bone spur in an effort to reduce chronic inflammation.^[65]