There are dozens of similar cases in the last few decades involving phenomenal athletes who are top-caliber QBs at the high school and college level. But that's the one position where success at the college level has the least correlation to success in the NFL. Let's go back over the last 40 years and list all of the college QBs who won the Heisman Trophy:
1971 - Pat Sullivan (Auburn)
1984 - Doug Flutie (Boston College)
1986 - Vinnie Testaverde (Miami)
1989 - Andre Ware (Houston)
1990 - Ty Detmer (BYU)
1992 - Gino Torretta (Miami)
1993 - Charlie Ward (Florida State)
1996 - Danny Wuerffel (Florida)
2000 - Chris Weinke (Florida State)
2001 - Eric Crouch (Nebraska)
2002 - Carson Palmer (USC)
2003 - Jason White (Oklahoma)
2004 - Matt Leinart (USC)
2005 - Troy Smith (Ohio State)
2007 - Tim Tebow (Florida)
2008 - Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)
I've left 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton off this list because he hasn't appeared on an NFL roster for a single game yet. I've got nothing against Tim Tebow, but he's in very good company on that list -- among a whole bunch of players whose defining characteristic is that not only are there no NFL star QBs among them (Carson Palmer is the only one who comes close), but the vast majority of them have had no impact on their NFL teams even as long-term starters.
What's even more remarkable about that list is who isn't on it. You can go back over the last 30 years in the NFL, and you'll often find that the top QBs at any given time had not necessarily been top NCAA players or even top draft picks. Names like Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Warren Moon, Steve Young, Brett Favre and Troy Aikman are conspicuously absent from this list.
With this kind of track record for uncertainty at the quarterback position, I find myself wondering why any NFL team would use a high draft pick on a QB.
I think Tebow brings intangibles.....in the end they’ll say, “All he does is win.”
Bookmark on a winner!
It all depends on the system. If a team is looking for a classic drop back passer Tim Tebow doesn't fit, but if they are looking for a QB that rolls out, or run a west coast style offense he might fit. Knowing that he is a Born Again Christian who works hard and doesn't run around with the wrong crowd makes him a better choice than a Ryan Mallet, even though Mallet is taller and throws harder.
The lack of NFL star QB's on your list just illustrates that the Heisman Trophy is not based on who is the best fit for the NFL.
The criticism that Tim Tebow gets from the secular sports media is no different then what happened to Kurt Warner. Instead of raising these fine men up as examples to young boys and girls they seek to mock them and if they stumble make sure everyone knows. It just shows how far we've fallen.