Spring football returns to the University of Alabama on Friday.
Fans of the Crimson Tide are very excited for this edition of athletes taking the field, as Nick Saban and the program looks to win a national championship. With 15 practice sessions on the slate – including the A-Day Game – yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine will provide in-depth previews of each position.
RELATED: PODCAST: Previewing Alabama’s secondary as spring practice returns this week
First, let’s look at the quarterback room.
Mac Jones, RS Junior
He enters spring practice as the leader of the room.
After playing in 12 games last season – four starts – Mac Jones is in his fourth year at quarterback and has the trust of everyone.
Once a four-star from Jacksonville, Fla., he finished the 2019 campaign with 1,503 passing yards, 14 touchdowns to three interceptions.
He filled in admirably after an injury to Tua Tagovailoa, helping the Tide score 40-plus points offensively versus Arkansas (48) and Auburn (45). He tossed for 300-plus yards against Auburn and Michigan, while posting at least two touchdown passes in all four starts. Jones has not only built up his confidence as a passer, but he has also improved his body for SEC competition.
He has a lot of critics and doubters; however, Jones is prepared to prove them all wrong.
Alabama had three signal callers in the same mold as Jones – Greg McElroy, AJ McCarron and Jacob Coker – that all won national championships, but he has a better skill set and more talent around him than they did.
He looks to lead the program back to the national title.
Bryce Young, Freshman
He has created so much attention and now, he wants to capitalize on it.
Bryce Young has everyone on pins and needles.
The talented true freshman from California dominated Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) and arrives at Alabama as a five-star.
He led the Monarchs to a state championship in 2018 and to the state title game in 2019.
Young was a passing protégé, totaling 13,250 yards with 178 touchdowns. He earned the Gatorade Player of the Year in California and High School Quarterback of the Year from the National Quarterback Club in 2019. Young tore up the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, winning Offensive MVP honors and the All-American Bowl Player of the Year.
Listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, he has the passing mechanics to take the Crimson Tide to the next level offensively.
According to Coach Saban, he ‘loves’ everything about Young. He’ll have to win the team with his performance on the field and personality.
Taulia Tagovailoa, Sophomore
He is in for the hardest fight of his life, and he must do it without his brother.
Taulia Tagovailoa is now a sophomore, but the conversation has been about Mac Jones or Bryce Young for starting quarterback. As the younger brother of Tua Tagovailoa, Taulia set records for the state of Alabama at Thompson High School (Alabaster, Ala.). He was a four-star recruit in his arrival and many people felt he would slide into place as the starter, upon Tua leaving.
The experience of Jones and the attention Young has generated both have thrown a curveball at Tagovailoa’s plan. The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder saw action in five games in 2019, completing nine of 12 passes – including one for a touchdown against Western Carolina at home.
He talented, but will he beat out Young and Jones? That’s the question for Tagovailoa.
Paul Tyson, RS Freshman
He is the least talked about of the group; however, Paul Tyson may have the best passing mechanics of the quarterback room.
A four-star from Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) High School, Tyson is the biggest guy on the roster at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. He accounted for more than 6,500 yards passing with 69 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in 24 career games as a starter.
Tyson was 19-5 with the Huskies.
The great-grandson of legendary Tide coach, Paul W. “Bear” Bryant had over 30 scholarship offers, but he chose to remain at home with Alabama. He played one game last year (W. Carolina) and was able to redshirt his freshman campaign. Tyson has full knowledge of the playbook and during practices in 2019, he displayed some of the best throws to receivers.
He is bigger than the legacy name and looks to gain more action this spring.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
