Even though he’s one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Alabama history, AJ McCarron didn’t get to watch the Crimson Tide’s spring game on Saturday.
His preparations for the St. Louis Battlehawks’ Sunday game against the San Antonio Brahmas took priority, despite the keen interest surrounding A-Day this year.
Saturday’s spring game marked a transition in Alabama’s football program from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer as the Tide’s head coach. Saban stepped down in January after 17 seasons in the position, and Alabama brought DeBoer from Washington to fill the vacancy.
After the Battlehawks defeated the Brahmas 31-24 in a United Football League game, McCarron was asked about the change at his alma mater.
“I think it’s a great hire for Alabama,” McCarron said. “I wish coach DeBoer nothing but the best. It’s always tough following coach Saban’s footsteps, but the biggest thing is just being himself. Don’t try to be coach Saban. I know what the people of Alabama and the fan base expect, and he knows that. Just be himself and have fun.
“They’re still going to be able to win. They’re still going to get the top recruits. I’m excited to watch this new era of Alabama football.”
A Mobile prep star at St. Paul’s Episcopal, McCarron was with Saban at Alabama for five seasons. After a redshirt year in 2009, when the Crimson Tide won the BCS national championship, and a backup season in 2010, McCarron was the starting quarterback in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Alabama won the BCS national championship in the 2011 and 2012 campaigns.
In 2013, McCarron won the Maxwell Award as the best player in college football and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top upperclassman quarterback. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting while receiving first-team All-American recognition from the American Football Coaches Association and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Also in 2013, McCarron set school single-season and career records for passing yards and yards of total offense. He became the Crimson Tide’s career leader for touchdown passes, too, in 2013 after setting the Alabama single-season record in 2012. McCarron remains the school record-holder for career passing yards and yards of total offense.