Florida cornerback Joe Haden to get reps at quarterback, subbing for Tim Tebow

Florida gives CB Haden shot at quarterback

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Step aside Tim Tebow. Defending national champion Florida has another quarterback ready to take snaps this season.

And it’s not John Brantley, the No. 2 guy on the depth chart.

Joe Haden, one of the team’s best defensive players, is working with the quarterbacks in fall practice and planning to get some repetitions there this season.

Haden, a 5-foot-11 junior from Fort Washington, Md., played quarterback at Friendly High School and set a state record with 7,371 yards passing. He also tied a state record with 80 touchdown passes.

When he got to Florida, Tebow had already secured the starting job, so Haden switched to defense. He became the first freshman in Florida history to start at cornerback.