![Former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow receives the College Hall of Fame award from Florida Gators quarterback Steve Spurrier during the first half against the Florida State Seminoles at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/USATSI_25956692-1920x1280.jpg "Is Tim Tebow the Greatest No. 15 in Sports History? His Florida Legacy Says Yes")
In college sports, specific jersey numbers have become iconic due to the players who wore them and the achievements they made. For example, the number 7 is often associated with legendary quarterbacks like Danny Wuerffel (Florida) and Roger Staubach (Navy), while the number 12 is famously worn by Alabama quarterbacks.
Deion Sanders made the number 2 iconic with his performances for Florida State as a cornerback, and the records and achievements produced by Tim Tebow suggest that his number (15) should be regarded in the same breath as these greats.
Tim Tebow’s No. 15 Jersey May Be the Most Iconic in College Football History
Tim Tebow wore number 15 and played college football for the Florida Gators, where he became the first underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy and helped lead the team to two BCS National Championship titles in 2006 and 2008.
Tebow was heavily recruited by many college programs and almost Mike Shula at Alabama. Instead, he chose to attend the University of Florida and play for coach Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators. He was a backup on the Florida team that won the 2006 national championship.
Tebow became a starter in 2007, and he set numerous personal, school, and national records in the 2007 season, including: SEC season rushing touchdown record (20), Career-high single-game rushing touchdowns (5), and SEC season total touchdowns (55, passing and rushing).
Is Tim Tebow the greatest athlete to ever wear number 15? 🏈
Career accomplishments at Florida:
• 2x National Champion (2006, 2008)
• Heisman Trophy Winner (2007)
• 3x Heisman Finalist (2007, 2008, 2009)
• 2007 First-Team All-American
• 9,285 passing yards
• 88 passing… pic.twitter.com/PA36Gj7Ygj— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) May 10, 2025
In 2007, He won the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding college football player of the year. Tebow also received the Davey O’Brien Award, annually given to the best quarterback in the nation. In addition, he won the Maxwell Award and AP Player of the Year. He was the third Gator to win the Heisman Trophy, joining Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel.
In 2008, Tebow finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, with Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford taking the top spot followed by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, despite Tebow receiving the most first-place votes. He also won the Maxwell Award, becoming the only player to ever win it twice. He led the Gators to a national championship, his second with the program.
He is the only three-time recipient of Florida’s most valuable player award, as he received the award in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
At the end of his collegiate career, Tebow held five NCAA records, 14 SEC records, and 28 University of Florida records. Tebow is ranked second in career passing efficiency, third in career yards per attempt (9.33), eighth in career rushing touchdowns, and also owns the record for most consecutive games in which he both threw at least one touchdown pass and scored at least one rushing touchdown (14).
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Tebow was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on January 9, 2023, and was inducted on December 5, 2023.
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