Tebow & James Highlight SEC Individual Awards
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Football
Florida junior quarterback Tim Tebow (Jacksonville, Fla.) and junior return specialist Brandon James (St. Augustine, Fla.) were voted as the Southeastern Conference's top offensive player and top special teams player, respectively, in a vote of the league's coaches, announced Wednesday. Tebow was additionally selected as the league's scholar-athlete of the year.
Tebow leads the SEC in completion percentage (64.9), touchdowns (28) and passing efficiency (176.7), while also owning the lowest interception percentage in the league (.7). Tebow's on the field accomplishments include being the only sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy. Also, he is the only player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season and ranks first in Florida's record book for the most career rushing touchdowns. He has thrown for 5,557 yards and 56 touchdowns in three seasons, while having also gained 1,757 yards on the ground with 42 rushing touchdowns, both school records by a Florida quarterback.
James has scored two touchdowns off punt returns this season and is currently tied with Jacquez Green (1995-97) for the school record for career punt returns for a touchdown with four. His 687 kick return yards are the second- highest single season total in UF history and he improved his single-season punt return yards record to 509 after the Alabama game. James ranks fifth all-time in SEC history in total kick return yards, including kickoff and punt returns, with 3,037 total yards. He set an SEC Championship game record with five kickoff returns for 121 yards.
Tebow carries a 3.70 grade point average, earning the honor of 2007 SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. Tebow was also the second sophomore football player in school history to earn ESPN.com Academic All-America first-team honors in the 2007 season. Thanks to Tebow, Florida became one of only three schools to have a Heisman winner receive Academic All-America honors in the same year.
2008 SEC FOOTBALL INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Offensive Player of the Year
Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Defensive Player of the Year
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee
Special Teams Player of the Year
Brandon James, RS, Florida
Freshman of the Year
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Michael Oher, Ole Miss
Coach of the Year
*Houston Nutt, Ole Miss
*Nick Saban, Alabama
*Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt
# - Unanimous Selection
* - Ties
