Tim Tebow, Future Coach, and the Five Best Players Turned College Coaches

Not news: Urban Meyer denying that he wants to be the coach at Notre Dame. News: Meyer continuing to put his quarterback's name out there as a potential coach at some point, especially with Tim Tebow's tacit agreement.

"He actually always gives me a hard time about that, saying one day how I'm going to be in his seat and coaching here," Tebow said. "I don't know. That's something that intrigues me ... being able to coach them as far as life experiences and football."

It's no stunner that Tebow, legendary for his film study and regarded as a fiery leader, would be interested in the opportunity to combine football and teaching like this. He would also probably be fairly good: Though his tactics would probably be less innovative than more ingenious football minds, outworking him would be a virtual impossibility, and there's no way he would struggle in recruiting.

But, I wondered, would he be the best player to ever pick up a headset after his playing days? So I worked up a list of the five best college players-turned-current college coaches. You tell me where Tebow would go, or if I've neglected anyone.

5. Randy Shannon. Not quite a star, but he started at linebacker for the 1987 Miami Hurricanes. Counts for something here.

4. Pat Fitzgerald. The rock of Northwestern's few good teams in the mid-'90s, Fitzgerald won the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award twice each.

3. Mike Gundy. Was it hard to be Oklahoma State's quarterback when Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas were splitting time in the backfield? Probably not. But Gundy, as a player, led the Cowboys to the program's only ten-win seasons, and set a few marks along the way.

2. Jim Harbaugh. A bunch of passing records for Michigan during three years as a starter under Bo Schembechler help establish his individual talent, and Fiesta and Rose Bowl berths add team success.

1. Steve Spurrier. Remember, the Ol' Ball Coach did win a Heisman back in the day. His path from Florida Heisman-winner to Florida coach would probably be Tebow's ideal arc, if he chooses to coach.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.