Tim Tebow may have violated NCAA rules by speaking to an Ohio State recruit as an apparent favor to former Florida coach Urban Meyer.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Tebow's short conversation with Clifton Garrett, an Illinois high school linebacker, has forced OSU officials to report a secondary NCAA violation.
As constituted, NCAA rules prohibit former college football players from having contact with recruits on behalf of a college. The Sentinel reports Garrett phoned Meyer while he happened to be with Tebow early last year and the two briefly talked.
"Upon receiving the call, Coach Meyer informed Garrett that he was on vacation and having lunch with friends and family, including Tim Tebow," a source told the newspaper. "Garrett asked Coach Meyer if he could wish Tebow good luck on the upcoming season. Coach Meyer handed the phone to Tebow and Garrett conversed with Tebow for approximately eight seconds."
Meyer has since assured the NCAA that no recruiting conversation occurred and that there was no intent to have Tebow sway Garrett's recruiting decision.
"Coach Meyer reported that Garrett was not instructed to call by anyone from the Ohio State football staff and that neither he nor Tebow had any other communication with any other prospects during the lunch," the source added. "He was adamant that it was a reflexive, courteous action rather than an intentional attempt to involve Tim Tebow in the recruiting process."
Nevertheless, Garrett was so impressed by the exchange with Tebow he later posted on his Twitter account "I just called Coach Meyer just ta see whats up and next thing you know I was talking on the phone to TIM TEBOW!!! #InShockRightNow #Insane!"
Garrett ultimately signed a letter-of-intent to attend LSU.
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