The Quarterback position promises to be a strength for the Florida Gators in 2008. The first ever sophomore winner of the Heisman, Tim Tebow, returns to lead what many Gator fans believe to be a team with National Championship aspirations. 

With the many weapons around Tebow, he should be able to produce similarly spectacular numbers as he did during his Heisman campaign in 2007.

However, due to the emergence of a few players at the running back position, Tebow will likely see a more limited role rushing the ball in 2008. This should provide an added boost to a passing game that already features game-breakers such as Percy Harvin and Deonte Thompson. 

Tebow will bear the brunt of every defenses best blitzing schemes, courtesy of Michigan's ability to get pressure and disrupt the passing game in the Capital One Bowl last year. Tebow should be able to adapt fairly well behind a very strong and experienced O-Line.

Backing-up Tebow are former five-star high school prospects, Cameron Newton and John Brantley. Despite a poor showing during spring ball, Newton still figures to have the upper-hand in the backup battle due to the playing time he got last year and a shoulder injury that kept Brantley out of most of spring practice.  In any case, both are quite capable backups and should see a good amount of playing time should Florida's offense produce as expected.  Barring complete disaster, the QB position figures to be one of the strongest groups that Florida has had in quite some time.

Everyone knows about Tebow after his record shattering season of 2007. 55 TDs and a Heisman Trophy later, Tebow will be the target of every defense in the Southeastern Conference. There will be no more doubting of his passing abilities and linebackers now know not to underestimate Tebow's bulldozing abilities. 

In any case, Tebow is the unquestioned leader of the Gator offense and despite looking rusty in the spring, he should have time to refine his throwing mechanics once again over the summer. The offense worked a little bit more out of a traditional under-center set than they did in the fall and a two Tight End set has also been added to give Tebow more time against the blitzes which should become more frequent in opposing defenses this year. Tebow still needs work on his three and five step drops, but as he masters these concepts, he should be one of the most complete quarterbacks in the NCAA in 2008.

Tebow's job should also be somewhat easier this season, as several running backs have emerged, reducing the need for Tebow to tote the rock. With playmakers like Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy, Deonte Thompson, and Chris Rainey, Tebow just needs to focus on getting the ball in their hand as quickly as possible. 

Tebow can do it all and, while he won't be called on to do as much this year, he will likely need to lead his team down the field late in the game at least once or twice this season to keep the National Championship hopes alive.

Cameron Newton

Newton struggled throughout the spring and couldn't seem to find his receivers throughout the spring game. His performance reopened the question of who will back up Tim Tebow, but Newton still appears to have the upper hand. He played last year in mostly a running role and figures to do more of the same this year, as Coach Urban Meyer has stated his desire to return to a two quarterback system. Newton did play well in limited time last year and given Brantley's injury status throughout the majority of spring practice, barring a fall practice meltdown, Newton will still have the backup job.

Newton's skill set allows the Gators to do the same thing as Tim Tebow so Newton probably won't have a different package of plays to run. Newton showed off his ability to stretch the pocket and take off for significant gains in the spring game, so Meyer won't hesitate to use him as a backfield option if he wants to mix things up. Newton's throwing woes are similar to Tebow's early in his career in that he slings the ball a hundred miles an hour regardless of how close the receiver is. If he can learn to take something off of his throws he could be a valuable weapon for the Gators in the future.

John Brantley

Brantley has been called the best pure passer on the Gators roster which is high praise given Tim Tebow's passing numbers during his Heisman campaign. Brantley will fight for the backup role to Tebow entering fall practice.  He is also considered the least mobile of the three quarterbacks, but has shown a knack for using the pocket well and extending his time to throw with his scrambling ability.

He has shown a much greater willingness to run the ball than he did in high school and seems to have the option figured out pretty well. Should anything happen to Tebow and Newton struggle, the coaches won't hesitate to throw the former Gatorade Player of the Year into the mix at QB. Brantley doesn't really have anything in particular that he needs to work on, he just lacks the experience that the other Gator QBs have. With some time in a backup role this season and possibly next, he should compete with Cameron Newton for the starting job once Tebow leaves school.