List of Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterbacks

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

A. J. McCarron in 2012.

Greg McElroy in the shotgun versus Tennessee.

Brodie Croyle with the Chiefs.

Ken Stabler

Joe Namath

1933 to present

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
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. There was controversy behind Tua's injury, as Alabama was leading 35-7 late in the 2nd quarter, and some fans felt he should have been pulled for his backup by head coach Nick Saban.
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 quit 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 South Florida University 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.	[1][2]
AJ 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.	[3][4][5]
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.	[6]
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.	[7]
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.	[8]
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.	[9]
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.	[10]
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.	[11]
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.	[12]
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.	[13]
Alan Gray	1981
Ken Coley	1981
Don Jacobs	1980		[14]
Steadman S. Shealy	1979	All-SEC. Shealy led the Crimson Tide to an undefeated season and the 1979 national championship.	[15]
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.	[16][17]
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.	[18]
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
Joe Riley	1936	All-SEC
Riley Smith	1934–1935	All-SEC

1922 to 1932

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
Tilden Campbell	1932–1934		[19]
John Campbell	1930–1931	Member of Wallace Wade's last national championship team in 1930
John Tucker	1930–1931	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	Member of first southern team to win the Rose Bowl. Major League Baseball player for the Washington Senators.	[20]
Allison Hubert	1924–1925	All-Southern, member of first southern team to win the Rose Bowl, 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."	[21]
Grant Gillis	1923–1924	All-Southern. Quarterback in the first year under Wallace Wade. Major League Baseball player.	[22]
Max Rosenfeld	1921	Major League Baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Charles Bartlett	1920–1922	Led team over Penn in 1922. All-Southern. Camp Honorable Mention	[23]

1895 to 1921

Luke Sewell with the St. Louis Browns.

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
William C. Baty	1921
Riggs Stephenson	1920	Ended career at quarterback due to injuries.	[24]
Luke Sewell	1919
Mullie Lenoir	1917
Dink Hagan	1913; 1917
Cecil Creen	1916	Creen ran in the touchdown to defeat Mississippi College 7 to 6. All-Southern. Camp gave him honorable mention.	[25]
Griffin Harsh	1914–1915
Charlie Joplin	1912;1914	Killed in the First World War.
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.	[25][26]
Emory Peebles	1908–1910
Emile Hannon	1906–1907	Nicknamed "Chick." Weighed just 120 pounds. Assistant coach for Bama c. 1913.	[27]
Truman Smith	1905
W. L. Ward	1904
W. S. Wyatt	1902–1903	Later a doctor in Lexington, Kentucky	[28]
Earl Drennen	1900–1901
Forney Johnston	1899
Ed Tutwiler	1897	Transferred to the University of Virginia.	[29]
Borden Burr	1895–1896	Later a corporate lawyer.	[30]

1892 to 1894

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	[30]

References

1. Gribble, Andrew (August 30, 2014). "Nick Saban names Blake Sims starter for Alabama's season opener". AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
2. 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.
3. Low, Chris (December 30, 2013). "McCarron's legacy as winner will endure". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
4. 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.
5. Kausler, Jr., Don (August 25, 2013). "AJ McCarron at the wheel of Alabama's high-powered offense". The Huntsville Times. AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
6. "Greg McElroy named ESPN Academic All-American of the Year". RollTide.com. November 23, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
7. 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.
8. Lin, Dennis (May 21, 2012). "Former Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle retires from NFL". The Birmingham News. AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
9. Cooper, Josh (October 11, 2006). "Guillon leaves Tide". The Decatur Daily. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
10. Walsh, Christopher (January 12, 2005). "Pennington leaves football team". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
11. Deas, Tommy (January 15, 2004). "Brandon Avalos will play baseball at Shelton State". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
12. Skinner, Jason (November 25, 1998). "Alabama's former top quarterback on sidelines, remains firm in faith". Baptist Press. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
13. Dunnavant, Keith (2005). Coach: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant. MacMillan. p. 260. ISBN 0312348762. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
14. Ingram, Ron (December 20, 2011). "AHSAA sportsmanship spotlight: Oneonta football team learns from struggles of 'Joe H'". AL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
15. Hicks, Tommy (October 24, 2013). "Former Alabama QB Steadman Shealy notes similarities in Tide, differences in game". AL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
16. Gold, Eli (2010). Bear's Boys: Thirty-Six Men Whose Lives Were Changed by Coach Paul Bryant. Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 9781418574178.
17. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
18. Bart Starr, by John Devaney, pg. 38
19. "Happy Campbell Rejects Offer". The Tuscaloosa News. February 18, 1938.
20. "Pasadena Clash Has National Grid Flavor". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. December 26, 1926. p. 13. Retrieved March 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Pooley Hubert". Retrieved March 20, 2015.
22. • Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
23. "Teams Selected By Various Scribes". Atlanta Constitution. December 3, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
24. David Zingler. "Riggs Stephenson Biography". Archived from the original on December 17, 2006. Retrieved December 25, 2006.
25. "Notable Comeback Victories" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2014.
26. "Nick Saban Era Begins".
27. Winston Groom (2000). The Crimson Tide: An Illustrated History of Football at the University of Alabama. Winston Groom.
28. "The Mt Sterling Advocate". newspapers.com. The Mt Sterling Advocate.
29. "Graduates Come To Varsity's Aid". The Tuscaloosa News. November 17, 1910.
30. Fuzzy Woodruff. History of Southern Football. 1. p. 17.