ESPN ranks Tim Tebow among the top 10 college football players of the 21st century

Before throwing one of the most famous passes in franchise history, former Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow had one of the greatest college careers of all time.

In a recent ranking of the 25 best college football players of the 21^st century, ESPN recognized the former Florida Gator by awarding him the 6th spot on the list.

Tebow had a distinguished career at Florida, highlighted by winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and two national titles in 2006 and 2008. He finished his college career with 9,285 passing yards and 88 touchdown passes, along with 2,947 rushing yards and 57 rushing touchdowns.

“After serving as a short-yardage and red-zone specialist during Florida’s 2006 national title run, Tebow stepped into the starting lineup as a sophomore and immediately became the game’s best and most defining player,” wrote ESPN’s Bill Connelly. “… your home stadium has a plaque with a speech from the starting quarterback after the game? Because Florida does.”

Following his distinguished college career, Tebow was selected by the Broncos in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft and provided some “Tebow Magic” during the 2011 season. After assuming the starting role in Week 7, Tebow led the Broncos to victories in seven of his first eight starts, including a six-game winning streak. During the regular season, Tebow recorded six game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime.

In January 2012, Tebow completed perhaps one of the most iconic passes in NFL history. As heavy underdogs, Denver took Pittsburgh to overtime in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. With the new NFL overtime rules in effect, Tebow sealed the win for Denver on the first-ever play from scrimmage, completing a pass to Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown. Tebow’s pass to Thomas remains an indelible moment in Broncos history and was ranked one of the best 100 plays in NFL history in 2019.

Click here to view ESPN’s list of the 25 Greatest College Football Players of the 21st Century.^st century.