The 2009 college football season began with high expectations for the quarterback trio of, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy. The three men were supposed to battle for the Heisman Trophy while guiding their teams to the title game. Unfortunately, their seasons have taken a different turn.
Sam Bradford, the Oklahoma starting quarterback and last years Heisman Trophy winner, returned for his fourth season. Unfortunately for Bradford, he’s suffered two shoulder injuries this year, and will finish his college career as a spectator on the sidelines. Despite being hurt this season and requiring surgery, Bradford is still viewed by many as the best quarterback coming out in this years draft.
Tim Tebow, the exciting University of Florida QB, demonstrated his leadership last year taking ownership of the Gators loss against Ole Miss, giving what is now referred to as, The Promise speech. This year Tebow and the Gators began the season ranked #1 with aspirations of repeating as National Champions. When Tebow suffered a concussion in Florida’s game against Kentucky, panic set in in Gainesville. Tebow would return, without missing a game, but he hasn’t looked the same. While his numbers are down from last year, his heart and desire are still as big as ever and he has the Florida Gators ranked #1.
Texas quarterback, Colt McCoy, threw for 34 touchdowns last year, but had only 11 this season beforeSaturday’s game. The senior quarterback who returned to Texas to play for a national championship, has his Longhorns ranked #3 in the country. McCoy has struggled some this year, while fighting various illnesses. Playing healthy for the first time in a while, McCoy looked good in the Longhorns win over, Missouri, finishing the game, 26/31 for 269 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.
While the final college season of these three men, have not played out as they envisioned, their futures look bright. They will all be NFL draft picks next April. There are varying opinions over their future success, with the consensus being, Bradford is the most NFL ready with question marks regarding McCoy’s mechanics and Tebow’s overall passing game. What isn’t in dispute, is these three men are leaders, and their colleges will have large voids to fill in their absence next fall.
Sources:
http://www.thesportsbank.net/nfl-mock-drafts/2010-nfl-mock-draft/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/gameflash/2009/10/24/39801_boxscore.html
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/oct/25/mccoy-serves-up-bad-medicine/http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/tebow_shows_how_it_done_3YPKD19H9tKV3oCpAY0XSL
