NCAAF: McCarron Returning for Senior Year at Alabama

AJ McCarron, the junior quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide, who led them to last year’s national championship and a shot at this year’s national title, announced Wednesday that he would be returning in 2013 to play his senior season for the Tide.

McCarron said in his statement that he had made a number of goals upon arriving at Alabama, and that through hard work he has achieved some of the goals he set, but some still lie ahead of him.

The Alabama leader said a number of factors were involved in his decision to stay for his senior season, but after talking with coaches, family and friends he was sure staying was the correct decision for him.

He said he loves his coaches, teammates, the University and the fans. He also said he would enjoy playing another season with his brother Corey, who is a tight end and will be a junior next season.

McCarron said he wanted to improve his leadership skills, continue to help the team win more football games and to develop even more as a quarterback.

He said he has had a dream for a long time of making the NFL, but he said another season at Alabama would only help his chances of becoming a successful quarterback in the NFL.

McCarron is a Mobile, Alabama native and leads the country in passing efficiency as he and the team prepare for the 2013 BCS National Championship game.

This season he recorded 26 touchdown passes to set a single season Alabama record. He had 2,669 yards passing with just three interceptions all season.

In his three years thus far at Alabama McCarron has 45 touchdown passes and that ranks him second overall in school history. He has 24 career wins and that puts him at number five in school history. His career winning percentage at Alabama is .923 as a starter and that is just second among all quarterbacks at Alabama.

Nick Saban, the Head Coach at Alabama said the school and the football program were pleased that McCarron decided to return to play another year of football. Saban said the quarterback has gone a great job for the team and has grown tremendously not just as the team’s quarterback, but also as an overall player and the team leader.

Saban indicated that he and his coaches help players to make sound decision about their futures and the goal is to help them develop a career off the field through graduation and be the best players they can be on the field when playing.

McCarron receives great support from his friends and family and has matured greatly in his three years on the team. Saban said that McCarron and his teammates would start practices on December 18 for the January 7 clash against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the national championship.