FanHouse's lead-up to college football's signing day makes like Charles Dickens and looks at the Ghosts of Recruiting -- past, present and future. In the Ghosts of Recruiting Present, we document prominent recruiting makes and misses that changed programsOK so maybe it isn't a real love triangle. But, we did have three parties --Tim Tebow, Jevan Snead and Colt McCoy -- involved in a sort of courtship dance. Amusingly, all three played major roles in the national title race this year. Unfortunately for Snead, he was sort of the odd man out in both situations, but got his revenge in a big way last year. We'll explain everything after the jump.
The story went something like this:
Tim Tebow, home-schooled but playing for a Jacksonville-area high school, was the highest-rated, most-recruited quarterback of the bunch getting offers from parts as far as USC. He publicly committed to Florida in December of 2005.
Problem is, another dual-threat elite quarterback had committed to the Gators in May of the same year, Jevan Snead. As it became increasingly apparent Florida would gain Tebow's services, Snead relaxed his commitment and eventually ended up linking with Texas in November of 2005, before Tebow made it official with Florida.
It has since been rumored that Florida coach Urban Meyer told Snead that the Gators were recruiting Tim Tebow as a linebacker, which if true Snead clearly saw through and we all know by now Tebow is something more than a linebacker in the college game.
Meanwhile, Texas had gained the commitment of small-town hero Colt McCoy, like Snead a Texas native, in may of 2004. McCoy was a decently regarded player, but certainly not all that well known and certainly not at the time someone folks felt could do so well following Vince Young.
As a redshirt freshman he had the leg up on Snead, but Texas coaches did not redshirt Snead and made use of both players throughout the 2006 season. Something about McCoy's play either settled things for Texas' coaches, or it settled things for Snead, because Snead was gone after that season, off to Ole Miss after a mandatory redshirt year.
In the time that elapsed, McCoy went on to solidify himself as a Longhorn great, starting for his third consecutive season, setting NCAA completion percentage records and darn near leading Texas to the BCS Championship Game. Tebow has taken it a step further, having a big role in Florida's championship in 2006 as an oft-used change of pace quarterback, before taking over in 2007 and winning the Heisman Trophy. Like McCoy, he was a Heisman finalist this year as well, leading his team past Oklahoma for Florida's second championship in three years.
Snead has been no slouch either, directing Ole Miss to a 9-4 record in coach Houston Nutt's first year. He directed upsets over Texas Tech, LSU and Florida, something of a sweet revenge moment down in The Swamp.
Its amazing how closely linked all three quarterbacks are, and how well they've performed in their careers. Clearly the programs were onto something in pursuing them.
Be sure to check out the entire Ghosts of Recruiting series leading up to college football's national letter of intent day
Previously in Ghosts of Recruiting
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Pac-10 Also-Rans Washington and UCLA
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Big 12 Slumpers Colorado and Texas A&M
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Former Masters Miami and Florida State
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Aging, Embattled Warriors Pitt and Syracuse
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Virginia and Michigan State Rounds Things Out
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Steve Slaton, Maryland Terrapin?
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Ryan Perilloux is Drama for All
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Houston Nutt, Reality Show
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Texas Whiffs on the Rodgers Brothers
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Bill Callahan Really Wanted Josh Freeman
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