When Croyle was ready to announce his decision to attend Florida State, he changed his mind and chose Alabama, his father's alma mater, instead.
In Croyle's four years playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, he set numerous school records, and was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Croyle led the Crimson Tide to the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic and was named the game's offensive MVP.
[14] Entering his senior year, many scouts had ranked Croyle as high as the #2 quarterback in the country behind Joe Mauer, who would go on to play Major League Baseball.
However, Croyle's high school career ended abruptly in the first game of his senior season against Glencoe High School after a hit by an opposing player which tore Croyle's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), causing him to miss the remainder of his senior year.
[14] Croyle showed interest in playing for Florida State due in part because of the team's offensive coordinator, Mark Richt.
The Crimson Tide were not fazed by Croyle's rather serious ligament tear, for they felt he would heal well enough that his talent still warranted a spot on the roster.
[1] After red-shirting his freshman year at Alabama, Croyle earned a spot as the top backup in his second season behind senior starter Tyler Watts.
Croyle led the Crimson Tide to a #8 national ranking, a 10–2 record, and a 13–10 victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl Classic, where he shared the game's Most Valuable Player honors with teammate DeMeco Ryans.
[1][15][16][17][18] In his final season at Alabama, Croyle attempted a then-school-record 190 passes without an interception and a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's most outstanding senior quarterback.
[28] In April 2007, nearly a year after Croyle was selected, Chiefs starting quarterback Trent Green was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
In the months prior to the trade agreement, Green had stated that he was being treated unfairly on and off the field and that the pre-season quarterback competition was "weighted" towards Croyle.
[28][29][30] Head coach Herman Edwards, who was emphasizing a "youth movement" on the team's roster at the time, voiced his displeasure with Green's outspoken comments and simply said that he was "trying to create competition.
Against the New Orleans Saints while Huard sat out with a calf injury, Croyle completed only 5 of 17 passes for 45 yards as the Chiefs lost 30–7 and dropped to 0–3 in exhibition.
[28] but poor play in the pre-season led to Huard being named the Chiefs' starting quarterback for the season opener against the Houston Texans.
Croyle was 19-of-27 for 169 yards with one touchdown, but he lost a fumble that set up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal.
[35] Croyle started his first home game at Arrowhead Stadium on November 25 against the Oakland Raiders, but injured his back in the 20–17 loss.
The injured quarterbacks continued to rotate playing time, and Croyle was again declared the starter for Kansas City's game against the Denver Broncos on December 9.
[37] The plan, barring injury, was for Croyle to start the remaining games of the 2007 season, so that coach Herm Edwards and his staff could better evaluate him moving forward into 2008.
[3][41][42] During the season opener against the New England Patriots on September 7, Croyle left the game in the third quarter with a bruised shoulder after being sacked by linebacker Adalius Thomas.
[43] Two days after the game, the Chiefs signed quarterback Ingle Martin off the Tennessee Titans' practice squad to back up Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen in Croyle's absence.
[5] He was injured on Kansas City's 14th play when he was sandwiched between two rushing defenders while throwing a pass early in the second quarter.
[49] After quarterback Matt Cassel was injured on August 29 against the Seattle Seahawks,[50] Croyle started the final game of the preseason against the St. Louis Rams.
Since taking over for his father, Croyle has been successful in the growth of Big Oak Ranch and ensuring the children grow up in a safe, Christian environment.