He has been a leader for Alabama football this offseason in more ways than one.
Along with being vocal and displaying a positive example in the preseason program, Mac Jones has lended his voice in the #WeWantToPlay movement — encouraging people to trust the players and the medical staffs of college football to have a season.
After he filled in admirably for Tua Tagovailoa in 2019, the fourth-year quarterback is in for a monster campaign.
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Jones was selected as a preseason candidate for the 2020 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
News was released on Tuesday via the Golden Arm Foundation, as the award is presented by the A.O. Smith Corporation and it goes to the nation’s most outstanding senior quarterback or fourth-year signal caller in the sport.
Since it was established in 1987, the Golden Arm Award was named after Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Johnny Unitas.
Former Alabama quarterbacks Jay Barker (1994) and AJ McCarron (2013) both were recipients of the honor.
Barker won a national championship in 1992, but he set career-highs for completion percentage (61.5%), passing yards (1,996), touchdown passes (14) and passer rating (151.7) in 1994.
McCarron was on three BCS National Championship teams, including two as a starting quarterback in 2011 and 2012.
During his senior year in 2013, he set career-highs for completion percentage (67.3%) and passing yards (3,063) while tossing for 28 scores and collecting a passer rating of 167.2.
Jones played in 12 games for the Crimson Tide last year — including four starts.
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He threw for 1,503 yards with 14 touchdowns to three interceptions. He led the Tide’s offense to big wins over Arkansas and Michigan (Citrus Bowl) and despite a 48-45 loss to Auburn, the redshirt junior gave Alabama every chance to win the game.
Prior to the Golden Arm Award, Jones was named a candidate for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
He is ready to prove to college football that he can deliver Alabama to a College Football Playoff national title.
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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.
