Tebow: I feel really good

Usually, this is the time of year when all those hits he's absorbed, and dished out, start taking a toll on Tim Tebow's body.

But despite going through the usual physical grind, Tebow said Monday he's never felt better.

"I actually feel the best physically that I've ever felt this late in the season," he said Monday. "I just feel really good.

"I've had some carries in the last few games, but I feel really good. My body feels good. I feel refreshed. That's exciting going down the stretch."

Tebow is playing without pain for one of the few stretches in his UF career.

In 2007, he played the second half of the season with an injured shoulder. He had pain-killing injections in the shoulder for six games. In the season finale against Florida State, he fractured his right, non-throwing hand.

Last season, Tebow had to cope with ankle, knee and shoulder injuries. He took pain-killing injections in his shoulder throughout the season and underwent surgery on right shoulder after the national championship game against Oklahoma.

This past preseason, Tebow had to battle through back pain. Then, in the Sept. 26 Kentucky game, Tebow suffered a concussion that sidelined him for UF's bye week.

Since his return for the LSU game, it's been a clean, pain-free run for Tebow.

Tebow said there has been no need for pain-killing injections this season.

"It's a relief," he said. "It's nice to be able to go out there and play and not have to worry about that or spending so much time in the training room.

"Being healthy and being able to go out there and play and not have to deal with something hampering you is wonderful."

Tebow said he didn't do anything different in the offseason to physically prepare himself for the season.

"Not necessarily," he said. "When I came off the shoulder surgery, just working with coach Mick (strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti), he did a really good job training me to be able to go out there and take hits. And just the type of workouts we've done.

"I felt like coming into the season I was in the best shape of my life. I felt really, really good. That was a bonus."

Tebow is 100 percent healthy coming down the stretch for the first time in his UF career.

"It's just great to have him this healthy," UF coach Urban Meyer said.

Tebow said the only thing he's not feeling good about is the Gators' inconsistent play on offense.

"We're very competitive and want to score every time we get the ball," he said. "Not being able to do that all the time and not clicking like we want to, it's been a little bit frustrating.

"You have to deal with that. At the same time, we haven't had to deal with a loss. I'd much rather have to deal with kicking a field goal than a loss."