Dec 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) throws the ball against the Florida Gators during the second quarter in the 2015 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama Football quarterbacks are called “game managers” by the media, but if you look at the history of the Crimson Tide you’ll see that Alabama quarterbacks have been some of the most talented and dynamic players to ever pass a ball.
Alabama Football isn’t just about defense and running the ball, the Tide has also seen its fair share of great quarterbacks. Let’s take a look at the ten best quarterbacks to ever play for The Crimson Tide.
#10 Jay Barker
Jay Barker came to Tuscaloosa after his 1990 graduation from Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville, AL. Barker became the starter partway through the 1991 season, taking over for injured Danny Woodson late in the Tennessee game and continuing to start after Woodson was suspended before the LSU game.
He led the comeback to beat the Volunteers for the sixth consecutive year, then beat LSU, Memphis, and Auburn to finish the regular season. Alabama Football finished second in the SEC and beat #15 Colorado in the Blockbuster Bowl.
Alabama’s elite defense and Jay Barker led the Tide to an undefeated season in 1992 to win the national title, including a win in the first-ever SEC Championship Game.
The Tide came back in 1993 hoping to defend their national title and rolled to a 5-0 start before tying Tennessee. Alabama then stumbled through the rest of the regular season, dropping games to Auburn and LSU. Because of NCAA sanctions against Auburn, Alabama still advanced to the SEC Championship Game to play Florida. In spite of a loss to the Gators, Alabama advanced to the Gator Bowl and beat North Carolina.
Jay Barker was a captain of the 1994 team. Alabama Football entered the SEC Championship Game undefeated but lost to Florida. The Tide finished the season with a win over Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl. Barker was the 1994 SEC Player of the Year and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Barker was drafted in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers and later played for the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers. In 1998 he was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, then he returned to his home state as a member of the XFL’s Birmingham Thunderbolts. Jay is currently a host on Jox 94.5 in Birmingham.
Next: #9 Steve Sloan