Gators coach Jim McElwain embraces former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron after a 2013 game in Tuscaloosa. (John David Mercer/USA Today Sports)
McElwain Says Former Pupil McCarron will be Prepared
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
McElwain was McCarron's quarterbacks coach at Alabama
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron has a difficult task ahead of him on Sunday in San Francisco.
McCarron will attempt to do what no Crimson Tide quarterback has done since Bill Curry was Alabama's head coach and Nick Saban was a Michigan State assistant: win a game in the NFL as a starting quarterback.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the last Alabama quarterback to post a win in the NFL as a starting quarterback was Jeff Rutledge, who led the Giants to a 20-17 victory over the Eagles on Nov. 15, 1987.
That's ancient history to McCarron, still three years from being born at the time.
Gators head coach Jim McElwain, who recruited McCarron at Alabama and was the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2011 when McCarron took over as the starter, is confident McCarron can get the job done.
In his third season with the Bengals, McCarron takes over for injured starter Andy Dalton.
"The game won't be too big for him,'' McElwain said Tuesday. "I'm convinced of that. This is something he's been preparing for his whole life; to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League."
McCarron led Alabama to back-to-back national titles in 2011-12 and was Cincinnati's fifth-round pick in 2014. He is the fifth Alabama quarterback taken in the draft since Rutledge in 1979 by the Rams.
However, Mike Shula, Jay Barker, Brodie Croyle and Greg McElroy were unable to earn a victory as an NFL starter.
With a victory on Sunday, the Bengals can earn a playoff spot. Dalton fractured his right thumb on Sunday against Pittsburgh. McCarron had thrown only four passes all season prior to his 22-for-32 performance (280 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) in a 33-20 loss.
Afterward, McCarron referenced another quarterback who was thrown into the fire because of an injury to the starter early in his career: Tom Brady.
"That's the confidence he plays with,'' McElwain said. "You've got to have a little of that to play at that position at that level. I'm not happy a guy got hurt, but I'm excited for the opportunity for AJ. Here's what I know about AJ. He prepared every week as though he was the starter. He is a football junkie. He's one of those guys you had to kick out of the film room.
"I remember his first year, on scout team. He ran the scout team. Obviously, he wanted to be the starter as a true freshman, but we had a returner there. He ended up saying, 'I'm going to be the best scout team quarterback there is.' He would bring the scout receivers up after practice and go over video."
McCarron will attempt to do what no Crimson Tide quarterback has done since Bill Curry was Alabama's head coach and Nick Saban was a Michigan State assistant: win a game in the NFL as a starting quarterback.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the last Alabama quarterback to post a win in the NFL as a starting quarterback was Jeff Rutledge, who led the Giants to a 20-17 victory over the Eagles on Nov. 15, 1987.
That's ancient history to McCarron, still three years from being born at the time.
Gators head coach Jim McElwain, who recruited McCarron at Alabama and was the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2011 when McCarron took over as the starter, is confident McCarron can get the job done.
In his third season with the Bengals, McCarron takes over for injured starter Andy Dalton.
"The game won't be too big for him,'' McElwain said Tuesday. "I'm convinced of that. This is something he's been preparing for his whole life; to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League."
McCarron led Alabama to back-to-back national titles in 2011-12 and was Cincinnati's fifth-round pick in 2014. He is the fifth Alabama quarterback taken in the draft since Rutledge in 1979 by the Rams.
However, Mike Shula, Jay Barker, Brodie Croyle and Greg McElroy were unable to earn a victory as an NFL starter.
With a victory on Sunday, the Bengals can earn a playoff spot. Dalton fractured his right thumb on Sunday against Pittsburgh. McCarron had thrown only four passes all season prior to his 22-for-32 performance (280 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) in a 33-20 loss.
Afterward, McCarron referenced another quarterback who was thrown into the fire because of an injury to the starter early in his career: Tom Brady.
"That's the confidence he plays with,'' McElwain said. "You've got to have a little of that to play at that position at that level. I'm not happy a guy got hurt, but I'm excited for the opportunity for AJ. Here's what I know about AJ. He prepared every week as though he was the starter. He is a football junkie. He's one of those guys you had to kick out of the film room.
"I remember his first year, on scout team. He ran the scout team. Obviously, he wanted to be the starter as a true freshman, but we had a returner there. He ended up saying, 'I'm going to be the best scout team quarterback there is.' He would bring the scout receivers up after practice and go over video."
Road to Gameday: Florida Football
Thursday, April 30
Road to Gameday: Florida Football Spring Game (Season 2)
Wednesday, April 29
Jon Sumrall Postgame Press Conference 4-11-26
Saturday, April 11
Buster Faulkner Postgame Press Conference 4-11-26
Saturday, April 11
