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Tim Tebow

Born Timothy Richard Tebow on August 14, 1987 in the Philippines (where his parents worked as missionaries) the Florida Gators star quarterback (and now playing professionally for the Denver Broncos) began his early football career in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Home-schooled by his mother along with four other siblings, Tim was by Florida law required to joined a local athletic school program and chose the nearby Nease High School football team. There he revealed an early and unmistakable star quality on the field.

He later helped bring the team to a state title, working his way up to a Division -A recruit, despite the controversy over his status as a home-schooled student.

With his pick of top football colleges assured, Tim later entered the University of Florida in 2006 and by sophomore year became the Florida Gators starting quarterback, breaking records for touchdowns and adding the Heisman Trophy to his list of accolades — as the first sophomore ever to win the coveted award.

Already the subject of many newspaper and magazine profiles, he has been a main topic in an ESPN "Faces in Sports" documentary, was featured in a Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd", and was named one of the "Breakout Players of 2007" for college football by Sporting News before the penultimate media spotlight glared with his Heisman Trophy win.

Tebow was honored at the 2008 ESPY Awards for Best Male College Athlete and later that season continued to shine with a record five touchdowns on November 1, 2008 in a crushing 49-10 defeat against the Georgia Bulldogs.

He later ended the season leading the Gators to a 31-20 over Alabama for the SEC title.

In July 2009, Tebow became the only athlete to win Best Male College Athlete Award two years running when he took the title again at the annual ESPY Awards.

In his last home game in November 2009 Tim Tebow made the most of his final appearance by throwing three TDs in Florida's 37-10 victory over Florida State. He later capped his storied college career with his finest performance to date as he led the Gators to a 51-24 victory over Cincinnati at the 2010 Sugar Bowl.

Early in 2010, Tebow again made headlines by appearing in a controversial Super Bowl commercial with his mom as a spokesperson promoting the anti-abortion movement. Although protested for weeks by women's groups around the country, the ad sponsored by Focus On The Family quietly appeared during the big game without much fanfare amid dozens of other Super Bowl ads.

Kicking off his professional career, the college football superstar was named a first-round NFL draft pick in April 2010 signing a $11.25 million contract with the Broncos, Tebow's NFL career began September 12 in his hometown of Jacksonville when the Broncos play the Jaguars in the season opener.

Since then, Tebow has gone fulfilled his promise as both an NFL football powerhouse and a lightning rod for controversy. Praised by fans, he is also reviled by critics for his deep religious beliefs that he his still not shy about promoting, on or off the field.

Undaunted, during the 2011 season Tebow was responsible for creating the Internet meme, 'tebowing", a practice he exhibits by getting down on one knee and praying on the field. While the widespread Internet craze for imitating Tebow's signature pose began as a source of derision, Tebow fans say it must be working --- as the NFL star continues to go from victory to victory.

More about Tim Tebow around the Web:

Tim Tebow - Wikipedia - Complete biography, personal details & vital stats, records and honors, photos, with an extensive list of related references & resources.

Tim Tebow Fans - Major fan site with the latest news & gossip, photo galleries, video highlights, quotes, vital stats, biography.

Tim Tebow Zone - Online community with the latest news & rumors, bio, quotes & fun facts, forums, photos, video.

Tim Tebow News - The latest headlines, photos & video reports from various sources around the Web, from Topix.com.

also see -> Football | College Football | Super Bowl