After carving out a solid career at the University of Alabama and putting some years in the National Football League, former Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy knows a thing or two on how to be successful under center. Now an analyst for SEC Network, the 2009 BCS national champion joined sideline reporter Cole Cubelic during today’s airing of the “The Cube Show” via 730 AM and 103.9 FM-UMP out of Athens, Ala.
With the topic being to chose the best Southeastern Conference quarterback for next season, McElroy said if he had to build a team then he would go with rising junior signal caller Nick Fitzgerald from Mississippi State.
“If I could have any quarterback right now, I’m taking Nick Fitzgerald out of Mississippi State,” McElroy said to Cubelic. “Just because right now in today’s day and age of college football it’s easier to craft an offense around a guy that can run and throw it. Nick Fitzgerald can do that.”
Fitzgerald took over admirably for the departed Dak Prescott in 2016, and led the SEC in total offense with 3,798 yards. The 6-foot-5, 223-pounder turned in 2,313 yards in conference play with 22 touchdowns, despite finishing 3-5 in the SEC and 6-7 overall. Athletically, one can see why McElroy picked Fitzgerald over Jalen Hurts of Alabama, Austin Allen of Arkansas or even Jarrett Stidham of Auburn; however, his completion numbers must improve. Fitzgerald hit on 53.6 percent of his throws versus SEC teams as a sophomore.
“Now I do think it’s imperative for him to learn how to play the position in a way that isn’t so high risk/high reward,” McElroy said. “He needs to occasionally understand that dumping the ball underneath to his running back for a five to six yard gain is a positive play. It doesn’t have to be a deep ball every time he throws the ball. But, I do think his athleticism and his ceiling is as high as anybody in the league and I’ve been of big fan of his for a few years going back to when Dak Prescott was the starter. I’m just enamored with his skill set. He’s my number one for sure.”
With Fitzgerald at No. 1, McElroy names Hurts and Jake Bentley of South Carolina at Nos. 2 and 3 respectively on who he would build a team around. He used the term “bullish” to describe how Stidham could look in the fall, but his performance remains to be seen. As for the SEC’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Hurts will be eyeing an chance to return to the College Football Playoff stage and this time, he intends to win a national championship.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
