AJ McCarron

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 21.

(Associated Press file)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — As the Heisman runner up and a three-time national champion, AJ McCarron has all the credentials.

But as Day 3 began in the NFL Draft, questions about his standing with team executives and scouts were voiced.

He was ultimately taken in the fifth round by the Bengals (164th overall) as the ninth quarterback.

McCarron, the Alabama starter the past three seasons, predicted a first- or second-round selection. That "rubbed (teams) the wrong way," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on the draft broadcast.

His on-field performance is strong, but individual interviews with teams were also an issue.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said he spoke with general managers and scouts throughout the draft process about McCarron. He said there were some "personality issues," in the evaluation process.

"Questions from evaluators: How much do teammates really like him? How much did he really follow him," Rapoport said live on the NFL Network broadcast.

A few voices spoke up in support of McCarron.

NFL Network analyst Charles Davis is on his side.

"When people say he's surrounded by so much talent, he didn't have to do anything, I don't think that's totally the case," he said. "I plug in some game tape and you can't tell me Texas A&M this year he was surrounded by talent and they won the game and he was just along for the ride. I thought he made a lot of big time plays to get that done.

"You go back to his sophomore year when they won the national championship game. It may have been the most boring national championship game ever played — LSU and Alabama — AJ McCarron was the difference in that game."

McCarron completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns in the 49-42 win over Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M on Sept. 14.

Stanford coach David Shaw also appeared on the NFL Network broadcast.

"There's no question, you talk about guys who's played in big moment, this guy has played in big moment after big moment, after big moment and not just taken care of the ball, but made some great throws and some great plays," Shaw said.