Brodie Croyle

QB · Alabama
Croyle is an unheralded athlete who was starting to emerge as a junior before a knee injury in the third game ended his 2004 season. Playing for Alabama was almost a given for this prep All-American. His father, John, was a defensive end for Bear Bryant's 1971-73 Crimson Tide teams and his sister, Reagan, was a member of Alabama's women's basketball team and served as Homecoming Queen in 2000. His father also founded Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home and school for children from troubled and abusive situations. Croyle was a Super Prep All-American at Westbrook Christian High School. Despite missing his senior season with a torn left knee anterior cruciate ligament, he was named to the Birmingham News Super Senior team. He set Alabama state career-records with 9,323 yards and 105 touchdowns. He also holds the state record for passing yards in a single game (528), passing yards in a season (3,787), touchdown passes in a season (44) and touchdown passes in a game (seven, a tie). For his career, Croyle completed 524-of-997 passes with 37 interceptions. Croyle was considered by many to be the number one high school prospect in the nation. He passed for 2,838 yards and 38 touchdowns with just seven interceptions as a junior. He finished his career holding nine Alabama state passing records. Croyle graduated early and enrolled in Alabama in January 2001 in order to participate in spring drills, becoming the first recruit of the Dennis Franchione era. He redshirted in 2001 and saw action in twelve games in 2002. Despite starting only twice that year, Croyle became the first Tide quarterback since 1989 (Gary Hollingsworth) to throw for over 1,000 yards in a season. He completed 60 of 123 attempts (48.8 percent) for 1,046 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added three rushing touchdowns and finished the year with 1,044 yards in total offense. With Tyler Watts having graduated, Croyle took over as the team's starting quarterback in 2003. He completed 182 of 341 passes (53.4 percent) for 2,303 yards, 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He joined Scott Hunter (2188 in 1969), Mike Shula (2009 in 1985), Gary Hollingsworth (2379 in 1989) and Freddie Kitchens (2124 in 1996) as the only players in school history to throw for over 2,000 yards in a season. The 2004 season looked like it was going to become Croyle's "coming out" party, as he connected on 66.7 percent of his passes (44-of-66) for 534 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in three games. However, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee vs. Western Carolina. Croyle underwent surgery, missing the rest of the season. He was fully recovered by 2005 fall camp and was chosen one of the team's captains for the upcoming season. Croyle returned to the starting lineup as a senior. He completed 183 of 308 passes (59.4 percent) for 2,224 yards, thirteen touchdowns and only four interceptions, adding a score on 60 carries. His 308 pass attempts and 2,224 yards rank third and his 183 completions rank second on the school's single-season record list. Despite leading the team to a 9-0 record from the start of the season, Croyle struggled in the Tide's final three contests. During that span, he hit on 46-of-87 passes for 410 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, but also fumbled the ball four times while getting sacked nineteen times for losses of 138 yards. In 37 games with the Crimson Tide, Croyle started 25 contests. He completed 469 of 838 passes (56.0 percent) for 6,107 yards, 40 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He carried 179 times for minus-183 yards and four scores, gaining 5,924 yards in total offense. Croyle ranks second in school history for pass attempts and holds the Tide career-records for pass completions, yards passing and touchdown tosses.