College Football 2012: Max Browne to Alabama Could Elevate the Tide

Yesterday we highlighted the fact that Max Browne, the nation's top quarterback prospect, is making his decision of where to commit today. After a hectic junior season that saw his recruitment explode Browne is trying to pull the plug on the hysterics and hammer down a commitment to focus on his senior season. Browne is reportedly down to Alabama, Southern California, Washington and Oklahoma. 

Obviously Southern Cal has been the glamour spot when it comes to quarterbacks getting drafted. Washington also has their own history of quality quarterbacks moving on to the NFL, and Steve Sarkisian is likely going 2-for-2 with Keith Price headed to the draft soon. Oklahoma has Sam Bradford and Landry Jones will likely be in the first round in 2013.

And then there is Alabama. The Tide haven't had a quarterback drafted in the first round since Richard Todd in 1976. It's been six years since the Crimson Tide have even had a guy go as early as the third round. Max Browne could be the kid to break this cycle for the Tide and truly make Nick Saban the man who gets everyone to the NFL.

During Saban's tenure at Alabama the Tide have sent a player to the first round of the NFL draft at every level. The front line on offense has Andre Smith and James Carpenter. Mark Ingram at the running back spot, Rolando McClain at linebacker, Kareem Jackson at cornerback, Julio Jones as a wide receiver and Marcell Dareus on the defensive line. The positions not showing up? Safety comes to mind, except Mark Barron will take care of that this year for the Tide.

Quarterback is the answer if you're drawing a blank, and barring some sort of massive, rapid improvement from AJ McCarron the streak will continue. Right now the Tide have Phillip Sims and Phillip Ely on the roster but through spring neither is truly showing much in the way of pushing for the starting spot. McCarron has a stranglehold on the job and with Max Browne enrolling in 2013, during McCarron's senior campaign, the opening is there for the freshman to win the job in 2014.

Entering 2014 spring, Browne would be a redshirt freshman in an open competition for the starting job left vacant by McCarron. It will be a heck of a competition with Ely and Sims, both highly touted in their own right, but Browne would definitely be in the mix. The opportunity to be Bama's next great quarterback since, and I say this based upon his Heisman finish, Jay Barker, is quite a chance. Especially while playing for a team that will be stocked with talent and ready to win another BCS title, or two, during his time on campus.