According to the Florida Times Union (via NFL Network’s Mike Mayock), Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has been given a third round grade by NFL scouts.

What Tebow does during the week is probably more important than what happens in the game because Mayock said the practices are set up by the NFL coaches to expose weaknesses in individual and one-on-one drills. Do well and Tebow’s stock will rise from a third-round pick — which is where Mayock said most NFL scouts have projected Tebow — into the second and possibly first round.

Struggle, and Tebow would have to have outstanding individual works to repair that damage.

“Most people think that he’s risking the most of any player coming to play in this game,” Mayock said. “I think it’s a brilliant move. Here’s a guy who’s arguably the best player to ever play college football, yet most NFL scouts will probably put him in the third round.

Tebow said following the SEC Championship Game that he wants an opportunity to prove that he can play quarterback at the next level. I’m paraphrasing here, but he said something to the effective that he wants to show teams that he can play quarterback and if he can’t, he’ll be willing to play any position the club wants.

I have my own doubts about his long delivery, his slow windup and his ability to play under center in a prostyle system, but it’s hard not to love Tebow’s attitude. If any player was going to put in the work necessary to succeed in the pros, it’s him and I can’t wait to see how he performs over the next couple months.

Photo from fOTOGLIF