McCarron buzz already in high gear
AJ McCarron is the quarterback at St. Paul's Episcopal School.
For most of you, that's something you didn't know.
But for a rapidly growing number of niche sports fans, that statement is breaking news in the same way that "George Bush is the president" or "Paris Hilton had a run-in with the law" would be breaking news.
Never mind that McCarron is closer in age to a fourth-grader than to some of the college players he's being compared to with increasing frequency.
For recruitniks, fans of high school football recruiting, the hype machine has begun for the 16-year-old who just completed his sophomore year.
"He's got as good an arm and does things as well as any quarterback I've been around," said St. Paul's coach Mike Bates. "I've watched him grow from being an athlete to becoming a football player and now a very good quarterback. Now we're seeing him mature into a great leader. That's what I've been most impressed with him about."
The last time a Mobile quarterback created this kind of buzz, the 15-year-old phenom was playing for Williamson High School. Today, that young man is $30 million richer as the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Oakland Raiders.
It's incredibly premature to speculate about McCarron being the next JaMarcus Russell, but that doesn't mean the comparisons haven't begun. Check out any number of Internet fan sites for posts with such breathless titles as "the latest on AJ McCarron" and "I talked to one of AJ McCarron's relatives." Or, even more baffling, "Is AJ McCarron really as good as advertised?"
Last summer, McCarron was not old enough to drive. But he was developed enough to catch the eye of LSU assistant coach Jimbo Fisher while competing in a camp on the Baton Rouge campus. Fisher approached McCarron to tell him that one day he would have a chance to play football in front of 80,000 SEC fans.
"That was a real surprise," said McCarron, who speaks with a respectful confidence that is almost shocking for a person of his age. "I wasn't even a full-time starter as a freshman, so I wasn't expecting to get that kind of attention at such a young age. But it's definitely been a blessing every step of the way."
McCarron caused a minor meltdown in recruitnik-land when he showed up at Foley's spring jamboree last month wearing an FSU T-shirt (the school where Fisher is now the offensive coordinator). But McCarron is fine with people analyzing not only his play on the field but his every move off it.
"I'm going to have fun with the whole recruiting process," McCarron said. "When a team is recruiting me I'll go out and buy a T-shirt for that school -- FSU, Alabama, LSU, Miami, Tennessee -- so I can always remember this experience."
McCarron has eliminated FSU from his consideration because the Seminoles recently received a commitment from one of the country's top senior quarterback prospects. Either LSU or Alabama is where he expects to play college football, he said.
"It's definitely a blessing to be in this situation," said the 6-foot-3 McCarron. "I'm glad my parents and everyone around me have done such a good job to put me in a good situation and have my name out there."
McCarron's name is definitely out there -- even if it won't be on a college roster for two more years.
See more at www.al.com
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