Florida football is once again well represented in a major national ranking, and one of the biggest names in Florida football history is near the top.
In ESPN’s rankings of the top 100 college football quarterbacks of the 2000s, Bill Connelly included three former Gators: Kyle Trask was ranked No. 56, Rex Grossman at No. 37 and Tim Tebow at No. 4 overall.
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First, there’s Trask, whose rise represents one of the most unlikely success stories in recent history. Originally a backup who waited years for extended playing time, Trask eventually emerged as one of the most productive passers in the country. He threw for over 7,000 yards across his final two seasons and finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2020.
Grossman’s ranking is a reminder that elite quarterback play in Gainesville didn’t begin with the spread-option era. Playing under Steve Spurrier, Grossman helped power one of the nation’s most explosive passing offenses in the early 2000s. He finished as a Heisman finalist in 2001 and nearly led the Gators to a BCS National Championship Game appearance.
Then there’s Tebow, whose ranking near the top reflects one of the most decorated careers in college football history. He helped lead the Orange and Blue to two national championships and won the Heisman Trophy in 2007. His blend of power running, red zone dominance and leadership reshaped how dual-threat quarterbacks were viewed at the highest level of the sport.
From Spurrier’s pass-heavy attacks to Urban Meyer’s spread-option dominance to modern high-volume passing offenses, Florida football has consistently been at the center of how the quarterback position has evolved in college football.
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Here is everything Connelly said about Trask, Grossman and Tebow.
What ESPN said about Trask
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Stats: 7,386 passing yards, 68% completion rate, 69 TD, 15 INT, 8 rushing TD
“A recruiting afterthought, Trask was already a junior when he got an audition following an injury to starter Feleipe Franks … and he threw for more than 7,000 yards in the next 22 games. Quite the audition.”
What ESPN said about Grossman
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Stats: 9,164 passing yards, 61% completion rate, 77 TD, 36 INT, 6 rushing TD
“His résumé was almost a lot better: He lost the 2001 Heisman vote to Crouch by just 62 points, and his Gators came up two points short of a BCS title game bid the same year. Still, he left a legacy as the last great Steve Spurrier QB.”
What ESPN said about Tebow
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Stats: 9,285 passing yards, 66% completion rate, 88 TD, 16 INT, 2,947 rushing yards, 57 rushing TD
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“In 2006, Tebow served as short-yardage back and scary red zone passing option as Florida won the national title. In 2007, he posted 4,181 combined rushing and passing yards and won the Heisman. In 2008, he gave an immortal speech and led the Gators to a 13-1 record and second title.
“In 2009, he led the Gators to another 13-1 record, posted 3,805 rushing and passing yards and finished in the Heisman top five for a third straight year. It’s almost impossible to put together a career more complete than that.”
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Three Florida Gators ranked on ESPN’s top 100 QBs of the 2000s
