FORT COLLINS — If coaches had a vote for the Heisman Trophy, Colorado State's Jim McElwain wouldn't hesitate about which name he would put on the top line: Alabama senior quarterback AJ McCarron.

"I truly believe," McElwain said, "the way AJ is playing the game, the way he plays in big games, for what he does for his team to create wins, I think he's the best player in college football.

"And I take some pride in that, to be honest."

Of course, McElwain has some inside knowledge and a vested interest. He was Alabama's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for four years before accepting the CSU job in December 2011.

Colorado State (1-2) plays Saturday (5 p.m., ESPN2) at top-ranked Alabama (2-0), and McElwain said he looks forward to seeing his former quarterback before or after the game.

McEwain helped to recruit McCarron out of Saint Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, Ala., and then coached him for three seasons: while McCarron redshirted in 2009 and then for McCarron's first two seasons of eligibility. As a redshirt freshman, McCarron (6-foot-4 and 214 pounds) backed up senior Greg McElroy in 2010 before becoming a sophomore starter the following season.

Then McElwain headed for Fort Collins, and Alabama coach Nick Saban replaced him with Doug Nussmeier, a former Idaho and NFL quarterback who had been the offensive coordinator at Washington.

In 2012, McCarron led the nation in passing efficiency while throwing for 2,933 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns with just three interceptions. This season, against Virginia Tech and Texas A&M, McCarron is a combined 30-of-52 passing for 444 yards and five touchdowns against just one pick.

"When a quarterback is that accurate, you had better have tight coverage (on Alabama's receivers)," said CSU senior cornerback Shaq Bell.

In helping the Crimson Tide overcome an early 14-0 deficit against Texas A&M last weekend, McCarron finished with a turnover-free game of 20-of-29 passing for 334 yards.

"AJ is a competitor," McElwain said. "He really understands what to do at his position to help his team be successful. I think Coach Nussmeier has done an unbelievable job with him and taken him to new levels that I couldn't take him."

McElwain was being humble. But McCarron wasn't shy about talking this week in Tuscaloosa, Ala., about the influence McElwain had on him.

"(McElwain) was an unbelievable coach for me, not only as a player, but as a person," McCarron said. "He just taught me a lot about life, how to act, what to do, what not to do. He means the world to me. And I wish him the best every Saturday — except just once this year."

This may be the statistic of the year: McCarron has as many national championships as career losses — two.

"Boy, you know what? That's pretty good," McElwain said.

Footnotes. McElwain said following Wednesday's practice that sophomore receiver Joe Hansley is "probable" for the Saturday game at Alabama after missing the past two games with an ankle sprain. ... Those likely not available for Saturday will be receivers Jordon Vaden (quadriceps) and Charles Lovett (leg contusion), and defensive tackle Terry Jackson (concussion symptoms). Freshman Eric Williams, a running back working on special teams, is out three to four weeks with a knee injury.

Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or twitter.com/tomkensler