Meet the 2013 Tide Players – AJ McCarron

November 3, 2012; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron (10) against the LSU Tigers during a game at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

AJ McCarron doesn’t need much of an introduction; he’s made his name known to all of college football. The recognition comes with quarterbacking two straight BCS National Championship teams and winning 25 of your first 27 starts.

Entering his senior season, McCarron looks to take every major Alabama quarterback career record. He already owns a few records: the most touchdowns in a season (30) and career (49) and the most pass attempts without throwing an interception (291).

Like his teammates, McCarron’s recruiting rankings varied by service. ESPNU called him the number four quarterback in the 2009 class and the 37th best player overall. Rivals.com viewed him as the seventh best pro-style quarterback, ten spots ahead of where Scout.com rated him. He also played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and earned Elite 11 quarterback honors.

Alabama fans weren’t aware of Greg McElroy’s injured ribs when Alabama played Texas for the national championship, McCarron’s first year on campus. Coach Nick Saban revealed after the game he was willing to take the redshirt year away from McCarron and let him play over Star Jackson if McElroy needed to leave the game.

McCarron saw action in all of Alabama’s 13 games in his redshirt freshman season. He threw three touchdowns and just under 400 yards on the season while backing up McElroy.

McElory’s departure brought a quarterback competition. Fans and media wondered if McCarron or redshirt freshman Phillip Sims would earn the starting job. McCarron separated himself from Sims early in the season and started all of the Crimson Tide’s 13 games.

Members of the media labeled McCarron as a “game manager” as they did Greg McElroy. Some claimed he was doing the same thing McElroy did: win games because of a great defense and running game. Those claims went away in New Orleans when Alabama had its famous rematch with LSU for the national championship. He earned the Offensive MVP award by throwing for over 200 yards and completing 23 of his 34 passes.

In his “game manager” season, McCarron threw for over 2,600 yards and 16 touchdowns. Two of his five interceptions came in week one against Kent State.

The 2012 season involved McCarron making his name nationally-known. The AP named him third team All-American, and he was selected as second team All-SEC. He finished the 2012 season with 30 touchdowns and 211 completions for 2,933 yards.

His first interception came in Alabama’s tenth game of the season against Texas A&M. He threw three for the entire season. Not many quarterbacks or coaches would say “no” to a 10:1 touchdown to interception ratio. He had the second-longest streak in SEC history with 291 pass attempts without an interception.

What should fans expect from McCarron in 2013? The same thing they saw in 2011 and 2012: consistent, intelligent quarterback play. He has the best wide receiver group the University of Alabama has ever had. He should impress NFL scouts and Alabama fans.
He’s already receiving some Heisman talk for 2013. No telling how likely his chances really are. A completion, and not an interception, at the goal line late in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M may have won him the Heisman this past season.

McCarron can add to is records total in 2013. Take a look at the Alabama records McCarron is in line to hold after the 2013 season.