Editor’s note: SDS is ranking the 25 best SEC players — at any position — of the last decade. Alabama QB AJ McCarron is next up in a 25-part daily series.

14.) ALABAMA QB AJ McCARRON (2009-13)

After the infamous jet-ski accident that almost killed him at five years old, McCarron became a high school standout recruited by several SEC programs, including Auburn, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Miami, Oklahoma and Florida State also pursued him heavily.

But the Mobile native headed North to Tuscaloosa as part of coach Nick Saban’s third signing class at Alabama.

During his redshirt freshman season in 2009, Greg McElroy led the Tide to a national title for the first time in 17 years. Bama fans didn’t have to wait long for the next one.

After dipping his big toe into the pool of college football in 2010, McCarron emerged from a tight competition with Phillip Sims as the co-starter entering the ’11 season. But McCarron started the opener against Kent State and never relinquished the role, beating Penn State on the road the next week in legendary coach Joe Paterno’s final college loss.

Playing with one of the best defenses in SEC history (8.2 points allowed per game) and a Heisman Trophy-winning running back, McCarron did complete 72.4 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the final three games, which included a road victory in the Iron Bowl and a revenge win against LSU in the BCS national championship game.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds (the NFL later listed him at 6-foot-3), McCarron put his bona fides to use as a redshirt junior in ’12, countering the “game manager” label by throwing 30 touchdowns against just three interceptions, a remarkable efficiency that dovetailed nicely with his increase to 9.3 yards per pass.

During the ’12 season, McCarron led a game-winning touchdown drive at LSU that may be the signature sequence of his college career. He started the drive 1 of 7 for zero second-half passing yards against a fierce LSU defense, then engineered a quick 72-yard march that ended with a 28-yard T.J. Yeldon tunnel screen for a touchdown and a 21-17 victory.

McCarron capped the season by completing 20 of 28 for four touchdowns in a blowout win against Notre Dame to claim back-to-back BCS national titles. (Yes, that was the game that Brent Musburger introduced the nation to McCarron’s now-wife, Katherine Webb.)

Though some of his numbers dipped slightly as a senior in ’13, he topped 3,000 passing yards for the first time in his college career. Alabama extended its win streak to 15 games before the Tide went to Auburn and suffered one of the most devastating regular-season losses in college football history. No. 1 Alabama attempted a 57-yard game-winning field goal with the game tied and one second left, but it fell short. No. 2 Auburn returned it for a touchdown, ending Bama’s chance at three consecutive BCS titles.

McCarron finished his career an astounding 36-4 as a starting quarterback at the University of Alabama with three BCS bowl appearances. He was in Tuscaloosa as a member of three national championship teams.

Career numbers: McCarron started 36 of 50 games, finishing his career with 9,019 passing yards, 77 passing touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Individual superlatives: 2012 — Second-team All-SEC, BCS Championship offensive MVP; 2013 — Heisman Trophy runner-up, Maxwell Award winner, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, second-team All-SEC.

NFL Draft: No. 164 overall (fifth round) to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2014.

Defining moment: That road comeback against LSU in ’12.