2007 Heisman Trophy

Florida’s sophomore Superman, quarterback Tim Tebow, made history during the football season and did the same during award season.

The 6’3", 235-pound quarterback-slash-fullback became the first player who was not a junior or senior to win the coveted Heisman Trophy — beating Arkansas junior running back Darren McFadden, Hawaii senior quarterback Colt Brennan and Missouri junior quarterback Chase Daniel.

"I’m just thankful. It’s an honor. And I’m so happy to be here," said Tebow, who accepted the award with a blue cast on his broken right non-throwing hand.

"There are a lot of great players who have had great seasons as a freshman or sophomore. So it’s an honor to be the first to accomplish that."

This season, Tebow became the first "20-20" player in Football Bowl Subdivision history — with 29 touchdown passes and a SEC-record 22 rushing touchdowns.

As an underrated left-handed passer, Tebow completed 217-of-317 passes (68.5 %) for 3,132 yards, 29 scoring strikes and only six interceptions. As a punishing runner in coach Urban Meyer’s spread attack, Tebow had 194 carries for 838 yards (4.3 ypc) and 22 trips to the end zone. Tebow’s 51 total touchdowns were more than 87 FBS teams scored during the 2007 season.

The former home-schooled high schooler has become a tall tale since arriving in Gainesville last season. During the Gators’ BCS National Championship season of 2006, the true freshman fan favorite shared playing time with senior quarterback Chris Leak. 

In Florida’s title run, Tebow completed 22-of-33 passes (66.7 %) for 358 passing yards, five touchdowns and one interception, while scrambling 89 times for 469 yards (5.3 ypc) and eight touchdowns on the ground. In the Gators’ 41-14 blowout of Ohio State in the BCS National Championship, Tebow passed for a touchdown and ran for a score.

This season, Tebow has continued the trend he started on the big stage against the Buckeyes in Arizona — passing and running for a touchdown in every game.

Tebow had 10 multiple passing touchdown games, including a four-TD effort at Kentucky. The one-man offensive machine also produced seven multiple rushing touchdown games, highlighted by a five-score day at South Carolina.

In only two seasons, Tebow has completed 239-of-350 passes (68.3 %) for 3,490 yards, 34 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while tucking the ball to run 283 times for 1,307 rushing yards (4.6 ypc) and 30 end zone celebrations.

And there’s still room to grow. Tebow’s sophomore season does not officially end until after the Captial One Bowl against Michigan on Jan. 1, 2008, in Orlando.

A humble recipient, Tebow joins fellow Gators quarterbacks and Heisman Trophy winners Danny Wuerffel (1996) and Steve Spurrier (1966) — making Florida the only school other than Notre Dame to have at least three quarterbacks honored with the most prestigious award in college football.

In a relatively close vote, the margin of victory was 254 points. Tebow finished with 1,957 points (462 first-place votes), while McFadden had 1,703 points (291 first-place). Finalists Brennan and Daniel finished third and fourth, respectively.

"I’d like to thank my competitors – Colt, Chase and Run D.M.C.," said Tebow.

After finishing second to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in last year’s Heisman balloting, McFadden became just the second player to have consecutive runner-up finishes since the first award went to Chicago running back Jay Berwanger in 1935. McFadden joins North Carolina running back Charlie "Choo-Choo" Justice, who finished second to SMU tailback Doak Walker in 1948 and Notre Dame end Leon Hart in 1949.

Meanwhile, Brennan’s third-place finish was the highest by a non-BCS conference player since Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair finished third in 1994. After leading Hawaii to a perfect 12-0 regular season, a WAC title and a trip to the Sugar Bowl, Brennan could not match BYU quarterback and 1990 Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer — the man whose career touchdown pass record Brennan broke this season.

The night belonged to Tebow, who approached the podium with obvious emotion. After several seconds of choked-up silence and heavy breathing, the 20-year-old Tebow nervously sped through his acceptance speech with genuine sincerity — thanking God, his family, his coaches and his teammates.

"I love Gator Nation. I love being a Gator," Tebow repeated multiple times.

"When I go back to the University of Florida, we’re going to have fun."