Season of K-State's Collin Klein compares to Tim Tebow's Heisman year
BY DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press
Friday, November 02, 2012
11/02/12 at 4:32 AM
MANHATTAN, Kan. - They've never met, never even talked, but they'd probably be best of friends.
Both of them were home schooled, both are rooted deeply in their Christian faith. Both were standout prep players who overcame funky throwing motions to develop into bruising, run-first quarterbacks for two of college football's most accomplished coaches.
All that Collin Klein needs to do now is lead No. 3 Kansas State to a national championship, stop by the Best Buy Theater in New York to accept the Heisman Trophy along the way, and the comparisons to former Florida star and current Jets backup Tim Tebow may never end.
"I've never met him and I've barely ever heard him speak, but watching him, you can see his team believes in him," Tebow said in an interview with The Associated Press. "He has great leadership, great poise, awesome competitive excellence and he's a winner. At the end of games and in big situations in games, he always comes through. That's an awesome trait."
It's one of the traits that defined Tebow's career with the Gators.
Just like Klein, who has developed under the wisdom of Bill Snyder, Tebow leaned on the guidance of Urban Meyer to become one of the sports' most dynamic players.
As a sophomore, Tebow had one of the most statistically impressive seasons in the history of major college ball.
Tebow threw for 3,286 yards, completed 66.9 percent of his passes, and had 32 touchdown passes with only six interceptions. But it was on the ground where he truly set himself apart, running for 895 yards and 23 touchdowns with the kind of power usually found in a fullback.
He wound up taking home the Heisman Trophy over Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.
Looking back, Tebow recognizes the similarities between the 2007 season he put together - and the two after that - with the senior season that Klein is having in the Flint Hills.
He's on pace to throw for 2,649 yards with 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season, and would finish with 1,030 yards and 26 touchdowns rushing.
Numbers quite similar to Tebow's Heisman season.
"I've gotten to see a lot of him last year to this year. I'm a huge college football fan, so I watch all the time, and I love watching what they do," Tebow said. "I've watched their offensive film, seeing some of the stuff they do, some of the read-option and short yardage stuff they do, goal-line plays, and seeing how he handles that. He does a great job."
Original Print Headline: Klein compares to Tebow
OSU up next
At Kansas State
7 p.m. Saturday
TV: KTUL-8 Radio: KFAQ am1170
Associated Images:
Kansas State's Collin Klein (right) and Chris Harper of Kansas State celebrate after Klein scores a touchdown on Sept. 22 against Oklahoma. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
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