Tebow sustained a non-displaced fracture in his non-throwing hand Nov. 24 against Florida State and wore a cast for three weeks, even picking the color to match the suit he wore to the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York.

"I was able to do everything," Tebow said. "It's weird, obviously, for the first time using it and being able to move the wrist and everything. It'll be back to normal. It was fine."

The other Heisman finalists — Arkansas' Darren McFadden, Hawaii's Colt Brennan and Missouri's Chase Daniel — signed the cast before the ceremony, and Tebow said he planned to keep it.

Tebow wore a small brace on his hand and wrist, but he hoped to have it removed before the ninth-ranked Gators play Michigan in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day in Orlando.

Tebow said he was starting to get back in a groove after missing a week because of two awards shows.

"The more you're out here, the more comfortable you're going to get," Tebow said. "I feel back right where I was when we played Florida State. It's nice to get out here and play after a week off. I love playing football, so coming out here, I was having fun running around and getting to play again."

Tebow also added to his growing list of congratulatory messages following the Heisman.

He got a text message from country music star Kenny Chesney — the two met at a small concert in Gainesville last summer, and Chesney invited Tebow to sing with him on stage — and a handwritten letter from President Bush.

"That was cool," Tebow said. "He wrote me a really nice letter, thanking me for having my priorities right and putting God first and congratulations, all that stuff. That was a huge honor for me. It was great."

The letter was dated Dec. 9 and read:

"Dear Tim, Congratulations on winning the Heisman Trophy. More importantly, I appreciate your priorities as stated in your speech! Faith, family, academics and sport. If your mission was to allow the Almighty to shine brightly, it worked. I appreciate the love and pride that your parents obviously felt last night. Please give them my best. Sincerely, George Bush."