USC offers Tim Tebow football scholarship after on-campus workout

LOS ANGELES — It appears USC has landed its quarterback for the recruiting class of 2017.

Dual-sport athlete Tim Tebow verbally committed to the Trojans following a scholarship offer from football coach Clay Helton on the same day he hosted a baseball workout on the USC campus.

“I’m honored that a university as prestigious as Southern Cal thinks I’m capable of playing quarterback at a Division-I level,” Tebow said. “This is truly a dream come true. All praise to Our Lord!”

Helton attended Tebow’s workout at nearby Dedeaux Field following Tuesday’s football practice to see what all the buzz was about. Helton said Tebow’s swing was a work in progress but that his athleticism and intangibles were evident immediately and precisely what he looks for when evaluating quarterbacks.

“I knew I had to have this kid before the secret got out,” Helton said. “How he has flown so far under the radar is beyond me.”

Helton says he likens Tebow’s transition to the one Russell Wilson made from baseball standout to Pro Bowl quarterback.

“Is he an outfielder? Is he a quarterback? Who am I to say,” said Helton of Tebow, who will focus solely on football at USC. “All I know is this kid has greatness written all over him. He’s gonna have a long, long football career.”