The Alabama Crimson Tide has become one of the biggest quarterback factories in college football over the last 15 years.
During that time, Alabama football has produced several quarterbacks who went on to become stars in the NFL, while also helping Alabama compete for national championships and dominate the SEC.
From A.J. McCarron leading Alabama to multiple national championships to Tua Tagovailoa’s legendary championship-winning performance and Bryce Young winning the Heisman Trophy, the Crimson Tide has had some incredible talent under center.
Here are Alabama’s top quarterbacks of the last 15 years.
Alabama’s Top Quarterbacks of the Last 15 Years
1. A.J. McCarron
McCarron has a strong case as the greatest Alabama quarterback of the last 15 years.
He played at Alabama from 2010 through 2013, and became one of the best quarterbacks in Alabama franchise history.
As a starter for Alabama, McCarron won 36 games, including two national titles. He won in 2011 and 2012, and also became one of the most successful Alabama’s quarterbacks by having the most wins as a starting quarterback in school history.
McCarron also put together awesome numbers in his career with Alabama. He finished with 9,019 passing yards, 77 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. That is why he is one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history.
His ability to win games, as he has won 36 games, separates him from many other quarterbacks on the list. He wasn’t simply a talented passer in any way. He was a quarterback of an Alabama team, coached by the legendary coach Nick Saban.
2. Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa’s Alabama career may not have lasted as long as McCarron’s, but his impact was enormous.
Tagovailoa arrived at Alabama in 2017 and became one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football.
His most famous moment with Alabama came in 2018 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia was up 13-0 at halftime, so Saban decided he would put in his freshman quarterback and see if he could do the impossible, and that’s exactly what he did. Tagovailoa entered the game in the second half and won the title for Alabama 26-23 in OT.
In the following season, Tagovailoa established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
Tagovailoa finished his Alabama career with 7,442 passing yards and 87 touchdown passes. His 87 touchdown passes are the most in Alabama history.
Tagovailoa’s time was short at Alabama, but what he did will not be forgotten, and that is why it was an easy choice to put him in the top three.
3. Bryce Young
Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win a Heisman Trophy, making his place in Alabama history forever.
He played from 2020 through 2022. After serving as the backup quarterback during his freshman year, Young started in 2021 and almost immediately made himself one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Young threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns while leading Alabama to the SEC Championship. He ultimately won the Heisman Trophy and became the first Alabama quarterback to receive the award.
Young finished his Alabama career with 8,356 passing yards and 80 touchdowns. He ranks second in Alabama history in both categories behind McCarron in passing yards and Tagovailoa in touchdown passes.
That is what makes Young so impressive, given what he did in the two seasons that he played, and that is why he will forever be one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history.
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