Former Crimson Tide national champion AJ McCarron is the QB to root for in the XFL

AJ McCarron won three BCS National Championships with Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, including two as a starter. In terms of college football quarterbacks are concerned, McCarron is one of the legends of the game.

Unfortunately, his NFL career didn't pan out to bring him as much success. McCarron was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and existed as a backup for six seasons before tearing his ACL in Week 2 of the 2021 preseason, thus effectively ending his NFL dreams.

His time in the NFL is done, but that doesn't mean McCarron's football dreams are over. McCarron is now in the XFL as the starting quarterback of the St. Louis Battlehawks. It remains to be seen whether or not the XFL sticks around this time around, but St. Louis has a rabid XFL fanbase thanks to the NFL's Rams leaving in 2016, and the Battlehawks are coming off an exhilarating 18-15 win over the San Antonio Brahmas. 

St. Louis was down 15-3 with 3:02 to go in the fourth quarter but took advantage of the XFL's 3-point conversion feature as well as the option to "go for it" on fourth-and-15 rather than onside or kick back to the Brahmas after the score. The fourth-and-15 option is certainly an interesting one and it led to an exciting finish. The Battlehawks connected and retained possession, which then led to a McCarron go-ahead touchdown drive and strike to Austin Proehl for the win.

After the game, McCarron was visibly shaken up as he celebrated with his sons on the field. One of the reasons he decided to play XFL football was to give them the ability to watch him play.