Rival Views: Best quarterback to win a title over the last decade
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Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, following Deshaun Watson's performance against Alabama, the two debate the best quarterback to win a national championship in the last 10 years.
FARRELL'S VIEW: CAM NEWTON
To me it's Cam Newton, but it's not an easy call. You could make a great case for Tim Tebow, Jameis Winston or Deshaun Watson but for pure domination I'll go with Newton. While he wasn't as accomplished a passer as Watson or Winston at the same stage, Newton was physically dominant and impossible to stop.
He could get you short yardage with ease, he could break off big runs and he could beat you downfield with his arm. Teams knew they needed to stop Newton and, no matter what they tried, it was impossible. I never saw Newton contained that season, while at times I saw Tebow, Winston and Watson struggle during their title runs. Newton carried his team on his back more than any of the others.
GORNEY'S VIEW: TIM TEBOW
I might be a bit biased with this question because I covered the 2008 Florida Gators’ run to the national championship but I saw Tim Tebow up close and personal that season. He was without question dominant in every way and absolutely deserves to be in the conversation for the best quarterback ever in college football
So much was put on his shoulders. He was such a cult figure that I actually felt sorry for him at times. Tebow couldn’t go out anywhere because it would be like a celebrity showing up in a restaurant. He had to sign so many autographs every day after practice that basically the school put a stop to it because it became so overwhelming.
Tebow, who also won the Heisman Trophy, was incredibly special. I’m not saying he was the most talented quarterback to lead his team to a national championship. That could have been Watson, Newton or Winston.
But that’s what makes Tebow even more impressive. He wasn’t a great passer but he moved the ball down the field almost at will. He was such a phenomenal athlete and an insane competitor that I’m going with Tebow in this spot.
