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List of Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterbacks

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This is a list of every Alabama Crimson Tide football team quarterback and the years they participated on the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Alabama quarterbacks have played prominent roles in American society off the gridiron as well. Both Farley Moody and Charlie Joplin died while serving in the First World War.

Starting quarterbacks

[edit]
Tua Tagovailoa
A. J. McCarron in 2012.
Greg McElroy in the shotgun versus Tennessee.
Brodie Croyle with the Chiefs.
Ken Stabler
Joe Namath
Bart Starr

1933 to present

[edit]

The following players were the starting quarterbacks for the Crimson Tide each season since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1933.

Name Season(s) Started Notability References
Jalen Milroe 2022–2023 As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Milroe got the start against Texas A&M in place of an injured Bryce Young. Milroe would throw three touchdown passes in the Tide's 24–20 win.
Tyler Buchner 2023 Buchner started one game in 2023 against South Florida after a loss to Texas in the previous week led the team to bench Jalen Milroe. He was replaced by Ty Simpson before halftime, and did not appear in any other games before entering the transfer portal as a lacrosse player at the end of the season. [1]
Bryce Young 2021–2022 As a sophomore in 2021, led the Tide to the SEC championship and a Cotton Bowl victory. Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy.
Mac Jones 2019–2020 Mac Jones became the starting quarterback the week after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a season-ending injury against Southeastern Conference rival Mississippi State on November 16, 2019. Jones led Alabama to win the College Football National Championship in 2020. Jones broke Alabama's single-season passing yards record (4,514) and broke the FBS single-season record for completion percentage (77.4%). [2]
Tua Tagovailoa 2018–2019 Tua Tagovailoa won critical acclaim for his 2nd half performance in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship where he led Alabama to a come-from-behind overtime win against the Georgia Bulldogs. Tagovailoa won the starting job in the 2018 off-season and started his first game on September 1 against the Louisville Cardinals
Jalen Hurts 2016–2017 Hurts was the first freshman to start at QB for Nick Saban. He led Alabama to the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship game, which Alabama lost to Clemson, 35–31. In the 2017 season, he led Alabama to the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, where he was replaced during the game by Tua Tagovailoa.
Blake Barnett 2016 Barnett started the first game of the 2016 season against USC. He was replaced by Jalen Hurts, who became the starting quarterback. After limited playing time in the next few games, Barnett chose to leave the program and transfer to a junior college, and then to Arizona State where he was the backup QB behind Manny Wilkins. He was then the starting QB for the University of South Florida Bulls.
Cooper Bateman 2015 Bateman made his first career start at quarterback September 19, 2015
Jake Coker 2015 Coker led Alabama to the 2016 national championship, where they defeated Clemson, 45–40.
Blake Sims 2014 Sims was named starting quarterback just prior to their season opener against West Virginia after he won a prolonged competition against Jake Coker. Against Florida, Sims set a school record for total offense in a single game with his 484 yards that included 39 total yards rushing. Sims threw for 3,487 yards (a single season record) with 28 touchdowns. He also added 7 rushing touchdowns and 350 yards on the ground. He led the Tide to win the 2014 SEC Championship, in which he was the game's MVP. [3][4]
A. J. McCarron 2011–2013 McCarron led the Crimson Tide to the 2011 and 2012 national championships and graduated as Alabama's career leader in passing yardage (9,019), completions (686) and touchdowns (77). He also holds the record for passing touchdowns (30) in a single season. He finished runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in the 2013 season. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2014 NFL draft. [5][6][7]
Greg McElroy 2009–2010 McElroy led the Crimson Tide to the 2009 national championship and was named ESPN Academic All-American of the Year for the 2010 season. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the 2011 NFL draft. [8]
John Parker Wilson 2006–2008 Wilson graduated as the all-time leader in several categories that have since been eclipsed. He still holds the record for completions in a single-season (255). He went undrafted but played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers. [9]
Brodie Croyle 2002–2005 Croyle graduated as the all-time leader in several categories that have since been eclipsed. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2006 NFL draft. [10]
Mark Guillon 2004 Guillon started a pair of games during the 2004 season after Brodie Croyle had a season-ending injury. He subsequently left the program in October 2006. [11]
Spencer Pennington 2003–2004 He made his first career start October 4, 2003. Pennington started the final seven games of the 2004 season after injuries to both Brodie Croyle and Mark Guillon. He left the program in January 2005 to focus only on his baseball career with the Crimson Tide. [12]
Brandon Avalos 2003 Avalos started against Southern Miss during the 2003 season due to injuries to both Brodie Croyle and Spencer Pennington. He left the program in January 2004. [13]
Tyler Watts 1999–2002
Andrew Zow 1998–2001 Led Alabama to a SEC Championship in 1999 and finished his career as the all time passing yards leader (now 4th).
John David Phillips 1998 As a fifth year senior, Phillips started the first four games of the season before being replaced by Andrew Zow for the year. [14]
Lance Tucker 1997
Freddie Kitchens 1995–1997
Brian Burgdorf 1993, 1995
Jay Barker 1991–1994 All-SEC. Barker led Alabama the 1992 national championship. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL draft.
Danny Woodson 1991
Gary Hollingsworth 1989–1990
David Smith 1987–1988
Jeff Dunn 1987–1989
Vince Sutton 1987–1988, 1984
Mike Shula 1984–1986
Walter Lewis 1981–1983 Lewis was the first black quarterback to start for the Crimson Tide and led Alabama during the final three seasons of the Bryant era. [15]
Alan Gray 1981
Ken Coley 1981
Don Jacobs 1980 [16]
Steadman S. Shealy 1979 All-SEC. Shealy led the Crimson Tide to an undefeated season and the 1979 national championship. [17]
Jeff Rutledge 1976–1978
Richard Todd 1974–1975 Todd was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft.
Gary Rutledge 1973 Rutledge was the first of two brothers to lead a national championship team. He led Alabama to the 1973 national championship and his brother Jeff Rutledge led Alabama to the 1978 national championship. [18][19]
Terry Davis 1971–1972
Neb Hayden 1970
Scott Hunter 1968–1970
Wayne Trimble 1966
Ken Stabler 1966–1967 All-SEC. Super Bowl XI Champion. Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Steve Sloan 1962–1965
Joe Namath 1962–1964 All-SEC. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Super Bowl III Champion.
Pat Trammell 1959–1961
Bobby Jackson 1958
Bobby Smith 1956–1957
Clay Walls 1956
Bart Starr 1953–1955 Pro Football Hall of Fame. NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. Two-time Super Bowl Champion and MVP (Most Valuable Player). At Alabama, he also played punter. [20]
Clell Hobson 1951–1952
Ed Salem 1948–1950
Butch Avinger 1949–1950
Jack Brown 1948
Hugh Morrow 1947
Hal Self 1945–1946
Harry Gilmer 1944–1947 All-SEC
Jim McWhorter 1941–1942 1941 team won Cotton Bowl and national championship. 1942 team won Orange Bowl. Drafted by Detroit Lions after WWII service.
Chuck DeShane 1939–1940
Hal Hughes 1937–1938
Vic Bradford 1936–1938 Outfielder in Major League Baseball.
Joe Riley 1936 All-SEC
Riley Smith 1934–1935 All-SEC
Tilden Campbell 1932–1934 [21]

1922 to 1932

[edit]
Red Barnes
Pooley Hubert
Charles Bartlett running vs. Georgia.

The following players were the predominant quarterbacks for the Crimson Tide each season after the establishment of the Southern Conference until the establishment of the Southeastern Conference.

Name Years Started Notability References
John Campbell 1930–1931 A member of Wallace Wade's last national championship team in 1930.
John Tucker 1930–1931 A member of Wallace Wade's last national championship team in 1930.
Melvin Vines 1929
Graham McClintock 1927–1928
Davis Brasfield 1927
Red Barnes 1925–1926 Barnes was a member of the first southern team to win the Rose Bowl, playing then as a halfback. Major League Baseball player for the Washington Senators. [22]
Allison Hubert 1924–1925 Hubert is the first quarterback for the Crimson Tide to win a national championship. He was All-Southern, a member of the first southern team to win the Rose Bowl, and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1964. Coach Wallace Wade called him "undoubtedly one of the greatest football players of all time." [23]
Grant Gillis 1923–1924 Gillis was the first quarterback under Wallace Wade, and so is the first quarterback for the Crimson Tide to win a conference championship, and the first to be selected composite All-Southern. He was later a Major League Baseball player. [24]
Charles Bartlett 1920–1922 Bartlett led the Tide to a 9–7 upset win over coach John Heisman's Penn team in 1922, one of the first times the Tide received national coverage in the newspapers. He was selected to some All-Southern teams, and received Walter Camp's All-America Honorable Mention. [25]

1895 to 1921

[edit]
Luke Sewell with the St. Louis Browns.
Mullie Lenoir
Cecil Creen
Farley Moody
Tutwiler cropped from Virginia team picture

The following players were the predominant quarterbacks for the Crimson Tide each season after the establishment of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association until the establishment of the Southern Conference.

Name Years Started Notability References
Max Rosenfeld 1921 Major League Baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
William C. Baty 1921
Jack Hovater 1920 Captain of 1917 team.
Luke Sewell 1919 Played in Major League Baseball as a catcher.
Mullie Lenoir 1917 Was an All-Southern halfback in 1919 and 1920. Later coach at Bluefield.
Dink Hagan 1913; 1917
Cecil Creen 1916 Creen ran in the touchdown to defeat Mississippi College 13 to 7. All-Southern. Walter Camp gave him All-America honorable mention. He transferred to Washington & Lee. [26]
Griffin Harsh 1914–1915
Charlie Joplin 1912;1914 Joplin was ruled ineligible because he refused to sign an affidavit stating that he had never played professional baseball. He was killed in the First World War. [27]
Farley Moody 1909–1912 He made the field goal to beat Tulane 5 to 3 in 1910. Moody scored two touchdowns, including a 40-yard punt return, and added four extra points in the 24 to 0 win over Howard in 1911. He coached the 1915 team with athletic director B. L. Noojin after coach Kelley was hospitalized with typhoid fever. Moody was killed in the First World War. [26][28]
Emory Peebles 1908–1910
Emile Hannon 1906–1907 Nicknamed "Chick." Weighed just 120 pounds. Assistant coach for Bama c. 1913. [29]
Truman Smith 1905
W. L. Ward 1904
W. S. Wyatt 1902–1903 Later a doctor in Lexington, Kentucky [30]
Earl Drennen 1900–1901
Forney Johnston 1899
Ed Tutwiler 1897 Transferred to the University of Virginia. Son of Birmingham philanthropist and New Market cadet Edward Magruder Tutwiler and relative of reformer Julia Tutwiler who is the namesake of Tutwiler Hall. One account reads "Ed Tutwiler is one of the greatest stars that football in the south ever produced. He was a graduate of the University in the class of '98, and afterwards went to the University of Virginia. He was considered the pluckiest quarterback in the south, and was noted for head work and generalship." [31]
Borden Burr 1895–1896 Later a corporate lawyer. [32]

1892 to 1894

[edit]

The following players were the predominant quarterbacks for the Crimson Tide each season the team was a non-conference independent, following the birth of Alabama football.

Name Years Started Notability References
William Walker 1892–1894 Later a distinguished judge in Birmingham [32]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New ball game: Tide QB Buchner in portal for lax". ESPN.com. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Wittry, Andy (September 20, 2021). "Mac Jones: College football career, stats, highlights, records". ncaa.com. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Gribble, Andrew (August 30, 2014). "Nick Saban names Blake Sims starter for Alabama's season opener". AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  4. ^ Gribble, Andrew (September 23, 2014). "Blake Sims' performance vs. Florida now historic after stat correction gives Tide QB program record". Al.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  5. ^ Low, Chris (December 30, 2013). "McCarron's legacy as winner will endure". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  6. ^ Whittaker, Rachel (January 2, 2014). "Alabama QB AJ McCarron breaks school single-season passing record in Sugar Bowl defeat". The Times-Picayune. NOLA.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  7. ^ Kausler, Don Jr. (August 25, 2013). "AJ McCarron at the wheel of Alabama's high-powered offense". The Huntsville Times. AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  8. ^ "Greg McElroy named ESPN Academic All-American of the Year". RollTide.com. November 23, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  9. ^ MacDonald, John A. (August 24, 2008). "Alabama preview: QB Wilson aims to make final journey memorable". The Birmingham News. AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  10. ^ Lin, Dennis (May 21, 2012). "Former Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle retires from NFL". The Birmingham News. AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  11. ^ Cooper, Josh (October 11, 2006). "Guillon leaves Tide". The Decatur Daily. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  12. ^ Walsh, Christopher (January 12, 2005). "Pennington leaves football team". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  13. ^ Deas, Tommy (January 15, 2004). "Brandon Avalos will play baseball at Shelton State". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  14. ^ Skinner, Jason (November 25, 1998). "Alabama's former top quarterback on sidelines, remains firm in faith". Baptist Press. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  15. ^ Dunnavant, Keith (2005). Coach: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant. MacMillan. p. 260. ISBN 0312348762. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  16. ^ Ingram, Ron (December 20, 2011). "AHSAA sportsmanship spotlight: Oneonta football team learns from struggles of 'Joe H'". AL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  17. ^ Hicks, Tommy (October 24, 2013). "Former Alabama QB Steadman Shealy notes similarities in Tide, differences in game". AL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  18. ^ Gold, Eli (2010). Bear's Boys: Thirty-Six Men Whose Lives Were Changed by Coach Paul Bryant. Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 9781418574178.
  19. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ Bart Starr, by John Devaney, pg. 38
  21. ^ "Happy Campbell Rejects Offer". The Tuscaloosa News. February 18, 1938.
  22. ^ "Pasadena Clash Has National Grid Flavor". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. December 26, 1926. p. 13. Retrieved March 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. ^ "Pooley Hubert". Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  24. ^
  25. ^ "Teams Selected By Various Scribes". Atlanta Constitution. December 3, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  26. ^ a b "Notable Comeback Victories" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2014.
  27. ^ "Charlie Joplin - Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice". www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com.
  28. ^ "Nick Saban Era Begins".
  29. ^ Winston Groom (2000). The Crimson Tide: An Illustrated History of Football at the University of Alabama. Winston Groom.
  30. ^ "The Mt Sterling Advocate". newspapers.com. The Mt Sterling Advocate.
  31. ^ "Graduates Come To Varsity's Aid". The Tuscaloosa News. November 17, 1910.
  32. ^ a b Fuzzy Woodruff. History of Southern Football. Vol. 1. p. 17.
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