Look, obviously both of these guys did great things in college, but they did them differently, regardless of what the casual observer will say. These differences are why we're here, right?
Young played for three years, Tebow for four. They both broke plenty of records and had plenty of firsts. Young was the first person in NCAA history to rush for 1000 yards and pass for 3000 yards in the same season. Tebow was the first person in NCAA history to score 20 rushing TDs and throw 20 TD passes in the same season.
Both scored lots of rushing TDs and at about the same rate. Tebow scored once every 12.14 carries. VY once every 12.35. However, they were very different runners. Tebow was essentially Florida's goal line back from the day he stepped on campus. In 4 years, he scored 41 of his 57 career TDs from inside the 5 yard line. He had 15 more from 6 to 25 yards out, and 1 from 55. In 3 years, VY scored 13 of his 37 college TDs from inside the 5. He added 18 more from 6 to 25 out, 3 from 26-45, and 3 from 60 to 80.
Tebow averaged 4.3 yards per rush. Young averaged 6.8. Vince Young's 15th rushing attempt went 60 yards. The next game he busted off a 60 yarder against OU. Tebow rushed 600 times before going over 30 yards. Average TD distance for Tebow was 6.6 yards. For Young it was 15.7. Tebow is a big, fast, pretty much straight-ahead bruiser. VY is bigger, faster, can bruise you, but will usually just beat you instead and get more yardage. Clearly they are different kinds of rushing threats and this will affect how they are perceived and gameplanned in the NFL.
I agree with your first sentence wholeheartedly, but it seems a little strange to only post these guys' rushing stats, especially since part of this discussion has been comparing Tebow's passing mechanics and ability to Young's.
Att-Comp-% Young 718-444-61.8 Tebow 985-661-67.1
Yds-TD-INT Young 6040-44-28 Tebow 9286-88-15
TD-INT ratio Young 1.57 - 1 Tebow 5.86 - 1
Yards per attempt Young 8.4 Tebow 9.4
it seems a little unfair to me though to just throw out career stats when Tebow played a year longer than Young, so here's Young vs. Tebow with Tebow's senior year taken out:
Att-Comp-% Young 718-444-61.8 Tebow 681-448-65.7
Yds-TD-INT Young 6040-44-28 Tebow 6391-67-10
TD-INT ratio Young 1.57 - 1 Tebow 6.7 - 1
Yards per attempt Young 8.4 Tebow 9.4
the yardage, attempts and completions are pretty similar, but Tebow has a higher completion % and a full yard more per attempt, and his TD-INT ratio and totals are pretty amazing. Young is kind of pedestrian in the TD-INT ratio but 8.4 ypa is still damn good.
like you said, they were both great players in college who did things in different ways. Young was faster, bigger and a better runner - Tebow was a better short yardage runner and a more effective passer.
*edited to add bold tags