Bama Central

5x5: The Best Alabama Quarterbacks During the Nick Saban Era

Five different ways to rate the top players at each position for the Crimson Tide during the greatest dynasty in college football history.

Christopher Walsh

5x5: The Best Alabama Quarterbacks During the Nick Saban Era
5x5: The Best Alabama Quarterbacks During the Nick Saban Era /
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When AJ McCarron finally saw his eligibility expire at the end of the 2013 season, having won two national titles as a starting quarterback, just missing on a third, but also having a ring from the 2009 season when he redshirted, the Alabama Crimson Tide had a void behind center. 

Underrated Blake Sims filled it one year, followed by Jake Coker during the 2015 season, although he needed a year to win the job after transferring in from Florida State. 

But in 2016, the quarterback room was crowded, sort of like it will be during this year's fall camp, with numerous contenders for the starting job including Blake Barnett, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell. Alec Morris had already transferred out to North Texas. Fans debated non-stop: Who would win the role? 

It turned out to be none of the above. Barnett got the starting nod for the season opener against Southern California, but was replaced by Jalen Hurts with his team down 3-0 with 2:44 left in the first quarter. The freshman fumbled his first snap, but Alabama went on to enjoy a 52-6 win at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas. 

Barnett transferred out to Palomar College to be eligible to play for Arizona State. In 2018, he transferred again, this time to South Florida, where he played in 15 games over two season. In 2018, he passed for 2,705 yards (214-350, 12 TDs, 11 int.). Bateman ended up at Utah, but never played in a game. Cornwell transferred to Nevada, but ended up playing just one game in 2017. 

Meanwhile, all four starting quarterbacks for Alabama since then have gone on to be first- or second-round draft selections and starters in the NFL. They all finished in the top three in voting for the Heisman Trophy (although Hurts did so at Oklahoma), with Bryce Young becoming the first Crimson Tide quarterback to win the award in 2021. 

The Best Alabama Quarterbacks of the Nick Saban Era

Five different ways to rate the top players at each position for the Crimson Tide during the greatest dynasty in college football history.

Recruiting

The top 5 quarterback prospects when signing with the Crimson Tide:

  1. Bryce Young, 2020
  2. Ty Simpson, 2022
  3. Tua Tagovaolia, 2017
  4. David Cornwell, 2014
  5. Phillip Sims, 2010

The next five ...

Eli Holstein, 2023
Jalen Milroe, 2021
Cooper Bateman, 2013
Blake Barnett, 2015
AJ McCarron, 2009

Tua Tagovailoa makes a throw against New Mexico State
T.G. Paschal/BamaCentral

Key Statistics

A lot of fans incorrectly assume the annual NCAA passing champion is determined by yards thrown. It's not, but by passer rating:

Name, Year, Rating

  1. Mac Jones, 2020, 203.1
  2. Tua Tagovailoa, 2018, 199.4
  3. AJ McCarron, 2012, 175.3
  4. Greg McElroy, 2010, 169.0
  5. Bryce Young, 2021, 167.5

Note: Tagovailoa's rating in 2019 was 206.9, but he didn't have enough snaps to qualify among the national leaders.

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones against Western Carolina
Alabama Athletics

Awards/Major Honors

Heisman Trophy 

Bryce Young 2021

Walter Camp Player of the Year 

Tua Tagovailoa 2018

Maxwell Award

AJ McCarron 2012
Tua Tagovailoa 2018
Bryce Young 2021

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm 

AJ McCarron 2013
Mac Jones 2020

Consensus All-Americans

Tua Tagovailoa 2018
Mac Jones 2020
Bryce Young 2021

Note: AJ McCarron was named an All-American in 2013, but was not a consensus choice

SEC Offensive Player of the Year

Jalen Hurts 2016
Tua Tagovailoa 2018
Bryce Young 2021

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron (10) and head coach Nick Saban react after defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Kickoff game at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 35-10.
Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft

Alabama has had five quarterbacks, six if you include Jalen Hurts after he played his final season at Oklahoma, selected in the draft during the Nick Saban era:

  1. Bryce Young, 2023, Carolina Panthers, first overall
  2. Tua Tagovailoa, 2020, Miami Dolphins, fifth overall
  3. Mac Jones, 2021, New England Patriots, 15th overall
  4. Jalen Hurts, 2020, Philadelphia Eagles, second round*
  5. AJ McCarron, 2014, Cincinnati Bengals, fifth round
  6. Greg McElroy, 2011, New York Jets, seventh round 

Overall

  1. Bryce Young
  2. Tua Tagovailoa
  3. Mac Jones
  4. Jalen Hurts
  5. AJ McCarron

This is the 14th story in the 5x5 series, with only a bonus story remaining. Check out:

Offense

Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Centers
Tackles
Guards

Defense

Defensive ends
Defensive tackles
Interior linebackers
OLB/Edge rushers
Safeties
Cornerbacks

Special Teams

Published
Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.

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