1. Tim Tebow

Florida, quarterback, Jr.

2007 Heisman voting: 1,957 votes (1st).

2007 stats: 13 games, 234 of 350 passing for 3,286 yards, 32 TDs, 6 INTs; 210 rushes for 895 yards, 23 TDs.

Outlook: The only thing in this universe that faces greater expectations is the sun. Mr. Sunshine is expected to show up every day. Tebow, after a glaring statistical sophomore season, is expected to show up and do great things every play.

That will be hard, in one sense, for coach Urban Meyer and his staff are looking to spread the wealth more this year, taking the ball out of Tebow’s hands a bit more to keep him fresh down the stretch, thus possibly limiting his ability to put up the monster numbers that carried him to the Heisman last season.

But just to review Tebow became the first player in college football to throw and run for more than 20 TDs in the same year while accounting for 70 percent of the Gators’ total offense. The most impressive part about those numbers is everyone in the Milky Way knew Tebow was Florida’s offense last year, and they still couldn’t stop him.

Still, the hope in Gainesville is Tebow’s load will be reduced this season simply because others will emerge. Not only are the Gators looking for more from their running backs – Tebow’s 210 attempts were more than twice those of top back Kestahn Moore – but they hope they will be able to spell him with a second quarterback, much the way Tebow was used his freshman season to spell starter Chris Leak.

While Tebow again spent part of his off-season doing missionary work, his newfound celebrity put him in high demand, and that’s been a concern.

“That's a big thing,’’ offensive coordinator Dan Mullen told the Associated Press. “Tim's always been somebody who is very giving and gives of his time. And this year, there are so many requests, and he's a guy who doesn't want to say no, that has been hard for him to limit it. He has to say no sometimes. There's a limit to what he can do and what he has time to do.’’

If Tebow is to become just the second player to repeat as Heisman winner, he will likely have to rely more on team success rather than individual numbers.

If he can lead the Gators through a schedule loaded with land mines, they will be serious contenders for the SEC and national titles. If he can get them to the BCS title game, it’s almost a certainty the Heisman will be his once again. 

Biggest plus: An offense capable of more fireworks than any July 4 celebration around and run by a coach who is much smarter than a fifth-grader.

Fellow Heisman contender and dual threat Percy Harvin will again cause all kinds of problems for opponents, and the presence of USC transfer Emmanuel Moody in the backfield could make Harvin even more dangerous. Tebow’s receiving corps, led by Harvin, will be one of the best in the country.

Special feature Tebow time Take a look at the 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow on and off the field. NBCSports.com

Biggest minus:

Two things. Mainly, a defense that ranked last in the SEC in pass defense and was ranked 98th among 119 Division I teams. Florida was only able to force 20 turnovers all season, ranking an unacceptable 88th in the country. To that end, Meyer made two changes to try and shore up the problem areas, bringing in former Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney to handle the defensive line and former Texas defensive back and NFL assistant Vance Bedford to work with the cornerbacks.

Then there is a schedule that features Miami, Fla., and Florida State in nonconference games, a trip to Tennessee, home games with LSU and South Carolina and the already highly anticipated date with Georgia in Jacksonville. If Tebow can direct his team safely through all of that, his Q rating will skyrocket.

First game (vs. Hawaii 8/30): Coach June Jones has departed, quarterback Colt Brennan is off trying to make an NFL roster and what’s left is a bunch of players who were blitzed by Georgia 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl. The Warriors will count themselves lucky if they can stay that close with the Gators.

Schedule: vs. Hawaii (8/30); vs. Miami, Fla. (9/6); at Tennessee (9/20); vs. Mississippi (9/27); at Arkansas (10/4); vs. LSU (10/11); vs. Kentucky (10/25); vs. Georgia at Jacksonville, Fla. (11/1); at Vanderbilt (11/8); vs. South Carolina (11/15); vs. The Citadel (11/22); at Florida State (11/29).

MORE FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College football Section Front

Georgia’s Richt evolves into head coaching role Richt glad son didn't go to Georgia Ga. Southern suspends 8 for opener vs. Georgia Special feature: The mighty Georgia Bulldogs Walters: Southeastern Conference preview How to follow Michigan? LSU awaits Appalachian St QB Mauk appeals to NCAA again NCAA bans horse-collar tackles in football Extra Points: Preseason polls way too similar NBCSports.com's Preseason Top 25 College football Section Front   Add College football headlines to your news reader: