Not only did Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s dream come true Thursday night, there’s another reason why maybe college football’s most decorated player can now say it’s good to be a Denver Bronco.
He won’t have to make a big wardrobe change.
Yep, the 6-3, 240-pound Tebow, who rewrote the Florida and Southeastern Conference record books while helping Florida win two national championships (2006, 2008) around a Heisman Trophy in 2007, is going from the Orange and Blue of Florida to the Orange and Blue of the Broncos. Denver deftly traded down through and eventually out of the first round before trading back into the first round for Baltimore’s 25th overall pick to take Tebow, who watched with his family and close friends at home in Jacksonville.
“I just think I showed them I was willing to do whatever it took,” Tebow told ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I want to thank everyone in the organization.”
Denver head coach Josh McDaniels personally worked out Tebow a couple of times since Florida’s Pro Scout Day on March 17 and the coach and player developed a relationship that went from seed to fruit Thursday as the National Football League conducted its first night-time draft from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
“Over the last few weeks, we really hit it off,” Tebow told Schaap. “I was hoping and praying that was where I could play. … They know they are going to get my heart and soul and everything that comes with me.”
Florida head coach Urban Meyer, who couldn’t understand why so many NFL draft experts and pro personnel directors doubted that Tebow could make the move from Florida’s Spread offense into a NFL-style offense, was glad that Tebow had overcome all the skepticism.
“I’m sure Tim and his family are glad the process is over,” Meyer said. “The Denver Broncos are getting a winner. Tim will show on the field what he is capable of doing and more than anything Tim has a competitive fire that will constantly push him to get better and do whatever he can to help his team win.”
Tebow was one of three Florida players taken in the first round on the first of three days of the 75th annual draft. With the seventh overall pick, the Cleveland Browns selected cornerback Joe Haden. Eleven picks later, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected offensive center/guard Maurkice Pouncey.
“I’m happy for Joe and his family. He is one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever coached,” Meyer said. “He came to Florida as an offensive skill player who never played cornerback. He approached the coaching staff about changing positions because he wanted to get on the field. Despite not playing cornerback in high school he developed into one of the best ever to play his position at the University of Florida.
“Maurkice has worked so hard to put himself in this position,” Meyer continued. “He loves the game of football and he loves to compete. His passion for the game shows on and off the field and I know a number of NFL teams told us they loved his attitude and his skill set.”
The three first-round picks give Florida 7 over the past four drafts, a number matched only by Southern California.
“When we were recruiting them we sat in their living rooms and we talked about graduating, winning championships and going to the NFL,” Meyer said. “It’s something special to see that happen. I look forward to watching them and having them back around our program.”
After skeptics talked about his weak points – his delivery and footwork – and a poor Senior Bowl appearance, Tebow went back to work with several former NFL coaches and re-designed his left-handed throwing motion. It was apparent that the changes were working at March 17 Pro Day in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the improvement continued as Tebow made the rounds working out in New England, Buffalo, Denver and elsewhere.
McDaniels, a former assistant to Meyer-favorite Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, fell hard for the Florida quarterback, convincing owner Pat Bowlen that drafting Tebow would be as big as the Broncos acquiring John Elway from the Baltimore Colts back in the 1980s.
Denver twice traded down in the first round. Owning the 11th pick, Denver traded down to No. 13 (San Francisco) and then traded No. 13 for No. 24 (Philadelphia). In the process, they gained four draft picks. Later in the round, Denver sent the No. 24 pick and a fourth-round pick to New England for the Patriots’ No. 22 pick and selected Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, a replacement for Brandon Marshall.
Then McDaniels got on the phone with Baltimore and packaged overall picks Nos. 43, 70 and 114 to the Ravens for their first-round pick, No. 25 overall. After the Dallas Cowboys traded for New England’s 24th overall pick and used it to draft Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant, ESPN suddenly switched its cameras to the Tebow family home in Jacksonville, where Tebow was talking on a phone and Denver Broncos hats were being passed around.
What the Broncos will do with Tebow will be interesting. They have starter Kyle Orton, who came over from Chicago in the trade that sent Jay Cutler to the Bears, who also sent along a first-round pick which ended up being the 11th pick of the first round. Also in Denver is Brady Quinn, a former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns who was obtained in a recent trade.
NFL DRAFT / FIRST ROUND
The NFL Draft continues Friday night at 6 p.m. with Rounds 2 and 3 (ESPN, NFL Network) from Radio City Music Hall in New York City and concludes Saturday with Rounds 4-7 beginning at 10 a.m.
1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4. Washington Redskins: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
6. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
7. Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
From Florida Sports Information Department: Haden becomes the highest-drafted CB in Florida history (Steve Tannen, 20th overall, 1970, NY Jets) … Haden is the third-highest defensive player the Gators have had drafted … Haden is Florida’s fourth defensive player to become an NFL top-10 draft pick in school history, joining Gerard Warren (third overall 2001, Cleveland Brown), Kevin Carter (sixth overall 1995, St. Louis Rams) and Derrick Harvey (eighth overall 2008, Jacksonville Jaguars).
8. Oakland Raiders: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
9. Buffalo Bills: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyson Alualu, DT, California
11. San Francisco 49ers (from Denver): Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
12. San Diego Chargers (from Miami): Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
13. Philadelphia Eagles (from Denver): Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
14. Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas, DB, Texas
15. New York Giants: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
16. Tennessee Titans: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
17. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, OC/G, Florida
From Florida Sports Information Department: Pouncey is the fifth Florida offensive lineman selected in the first round, the third-highest offensive linemen from Florida in draft history … Florida’s 41st first-round pick, sixth under Urban Meyer … This is the 10th time Florida has had multiple first-round draft picks in the same draft … Last first-round offensive lineman was tackle Kenyatta Walker, who was taken 14th overall in 2001 by Tampa Bay … Previous highest drafted center was Cal Dixon, who went in the fifth round (127th overall) to the New York Jets in the 2001 draft … With Pouncey’s selection, Florida has now had a player at every offensive and defensive position chosen in the first or second round … All-time Florida offensive linemen picked in the first round: tackle Lomas Browns (sixth overall 1985, Detroit Lions), tackle Kenyatta Walker (14th overall 2001, Tampa Bay), center Maurkice Pouncey (18th overall 2010, Pittsburgh), tackle Mo Collins (23rd overall 1998, Oakland) and tackle David Williams (23rd overall 1989, Houston Oilers).
19. Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
20. Houston Texans: Kareem Jackson, DB, Alabama
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
22. Denver Broncos (from New England Patriots): Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
23. Green Bay Packers: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
24. Dallas Cowboys (from New England through Denver through Philadelphia through San Francisco through Chicago): Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
25. Denver Broncos (from Baltimore Ravens): Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
From Florida Sports Information Department: Third Gator taken in the first round, tying for the most first-round picks in school history (1989) … 42nd all-time first-round pick, seventh for Meyer … Second QB under Urban Meyer taken in the first round (Alex Smith, Utah, taken by San Francisco in 2205) … Fourth Florida quarterback taken in the first round: Steve Spurrier (third overall 1967, San Francisco), John Reaves (14th overall 1972, Philadelphia), Rex Grossman (22nd overall 2003, Chicago Bears) and Tebow (25th overall 2010, Denver).
26. Arizona Cardinals: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
27. New England Patriots: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
28. Miami Dolphins (from San Diego): Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
29. New York Jets: Kyle Wilson, DB, Boise State
30. Minnesota Vikings: Jahvid Best, RB, California
31. Indianapolis Colts: Jerry Hughes, DE, Texas Christian
32. New Orleans Saints: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State