Tebow Presented 2008 Maxwell Award on Friday
Saturday, March 7, 2009 | Football
Quarterback Tim Tebow (Jacksonville) was presented with the 2008 Maxwell Award on Friday evening in Atlantic City, given annually to the best all-around player in college football. Tebow joined Notre Dame's John Lattner (1952-53) as the only repeat Maxwell winner since its inception in 1937.
The 2008 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, in addition to the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Tebow led the SEC in completion percentage (64.4), touchdowns (30) and passing efficiency (172.4). He is the only player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season, with 32 passing and 23 rushing scores in 2007, and ranks first in Florida's record book for the most career rushing touchdowns. Tebow has thrown for 6,390 yards and 70 touchdowns in three seasons, while also gaining 2,037 yards on the ground with 43 rushing touchdowns, both school records by a Gator quarterback.
Several weeks ago, Tebow was awarded the 2008 Wuerffel Trophy by the All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy Quarterback Danny Wuerffel, the award is presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Tebow was also selected as the recipient of the 2008 Disney Spirit Award, for the most inspirational story in college football.
In December, Tebow headlined the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football Team by being named the Academic All-America of the Year winner for the second-straight time. He joined UF basketball standout Matt Bonner (2002, 2003) and fellow Heisman Trophy recipient Wuerffel (1995, 1996) as the only individuals in school history to capture his sport's Academic All-America of the Year award twice. In addition, he collected the 100th Academic All-America honor for the school, as a total of 75 Florida student-athletes have combined to hit the century mark.
Tebow is majoring in Family, Youth and Community Services and has a 3.70 grade point average. He became just the fourth UF football player to achieve Academic All-America recognition in consecutive seasons (Carlos Alvarez, 1969-71; Michael Gilmore, 1993-94; Wuerffel, 1995-96). Thanks to his efforts last year, UF became one of only three schools to have a Heisman winner receive Academic All-American honors in the same year.
