Tim Tebow Is the SEC's Best, But Jevan Snead Is Not Far Behind

South Carolina Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier has recently created a great deal of buzz by failing to include Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow on his All-SEC ballot. 

While Spurrier has indicated that his failure to vote for Tebow was a mistake and has since changed his vote for Tebow, the occurrence is really a non-issue.

Sure, ESPN will have their fun by teasing this story endlessly on SportsCenter for the next few days, but is it really that big of a deal?

Granted, Tebow is deserving of a unanimous vote given his fiery leadership skills and his unparalleled career playing football at the University of Florida.

Tebow's body of work is impressive, a resume that includes two national titles, a Heisman Trophy, as well as the breaking of multiple SEC and NCAA records to his credit.

No. 15 is worthy of the honors that come his way and he should rightfully lay claim to being the best quarterback in the SEC, arguably the nation's toughest conference.

However, while Tebow is the SEC's best quarterback, Spurrier's original pick, Ole Miss Rebels gunslinger Jevan Snead, is by no means unworthy of the honor.

Snead, who made his debut in Oxford last fall after transferring from the University of Texas, had a stellar season in leading the Rebels to a victory in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.

Not only did Snead help the Rebels rebound from their mediocre 2007 season, but he had a phenomenal season individually as well.

Snead amassed 2,762 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes for the 9-4 Rebels, providing late-game heroics on multiple occasions for Ole Miss.

His most famous clutch performance may have been his 86-yard touchdown toss to Shay Hodges in the fourth quarter of a 31-30 upset of Tebow's Gators in "The Swamp."

That game, which led to Tebow's immortalization as a college football legend with his heralded "Promise" speech, also introduced Snead to the nation as a gutsy playmaker.

While Tebow may set the standard for quarterbacks in the SEC and all of college football today, Snead is poised to join the conversation during the 2009 season.

While he faces a tall task in his quest to help Ole Miss win the SEC West, Snead has proven that he is more than capable of performing above and beyond the call of duty.

So, if Spurrier casts his vote for Snead on his All-SEC ballot again next season, don't be too surprised.

The real surprise may be if a rival SEC coach doesn't vote for Snead.