For all that Kenny Hill did Thursday night to get Texas A&M fans behind his place as Johnny Manziel's replacement, he picked up yet another core of fans on Saturday morning: Tebow Nation. While much of the sentiment on the SEC Nation broadcast panel was cautionary about Hill's spectacular debut -- a school-record 511 yards in a 52-28 win at South Carolina -- Tebow boarded the Hill train and put it in fifth gear.
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"This kid is ready to go. Kenny Hill was the 2012 Texas (high school) Player of the Year. He's succeeded at every level, his dad was a major league player, and this kid can play," Tebow said. "His first start, on the road, No. 9 team in the country, you throw for 511 yards. ... Why Texas A&M has a chance to win every game they play in this year, is because Kenny Hill has poise. He has great decision-making and there isn't a situation that is too big for him."
To be sure, Texas A&M's offense had the look of a well-oiled machine in the absence of Manziel, and did so against a ranked opponent on the road. But if there truly isn't a situation too big for Kenny Hill, he'll have to prove Tebow right in situations bigger than that one. Hill must travel to Alabama Oct. 18, where the opposing defense will be far more stout than the swiss cheese defense South Carolina played Thursday night. Hill must also travel to Auburn, where the Tigers' explosive offense could potentially match him score for score. LSU will challenge the Aggies in College Station to end the regular season.
Regardless, Tebow's most compelling remarks Saturday morning on the SEC Network's two-hour preview show amounted to a stamp of approval for the Aggies' answer to Manziel.
Or, as the case might be, pre-approval.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
