Will McCarron Qualify for the Hall of Fame?

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AJ McCarron’s college football career is almost over.  One more game and then it’s done.

On the field, he’s accomplished more than others could begin to dream about.  Namely, he’s quarterbacked his team to two BCS national championships and served as the backup on a third title team.

He’s also owns most every Alabama passing record.

In the view of many, he’s the best quarterback Alabama’s ever had.

But all of that may not be enough to ensure that McCarron is one day elected to the Collegiate Football Hall of Fame.

Why you say?  Well, take a look at the eligibility requirements…

Hall of Fame Criteria:

  1. FIRST AND FOREMOST, A PLAYER MUST HAVE RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA RECOGNITION BY A SELECTOR RECOGNIZED BY THE NCAA AND UTILIZED TO COMPRISE THEIR CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS.

  2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the NFF’s Honors Court ten years after his last year of intercollegiate football played.

  3. While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.

  4. In accordance to the 50-year rule*, players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years. For example, to be eligible for the 2013 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1961 or thereafter. In addition, current professional players and / or coaches are not eligible until retirement.

  5. A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years old. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage*.

That first one could be the problem.  He must be named a first-team All-American by one of the selecting groups used to identify consensus All-Americans.  Who are those selectors?

As of 2009, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes the All-America teams selected by the AP, AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News, and the WCFF to determine consensus All-Americans.

It’s entirely possible for AJ to receive this distinction, but there are also a lot of great quarterbacks in college football this year like…

  • Derek Carr, Fresno State
  • Sean Mannion, Oregon State
  • Bryce Petty, Baylor
  • Aaron Murray, Georgia
  • Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
  • Jameis Winston, Florida State
  • Tajh Boyd, Clemson
  • Marcus Mariota, Oregon

It’s definitely not a given that he’ll earn the AA distinction, but it would be a shame if he wasn’t eligible for the Hall one day.