His excellence at quarterback may have stunned national media, local media and rival fans; however, his teammates at the University of Alabama saw this coming all along.
Mac Jones has gone from people doubting him to him grabbing the No. 1 spot in the Heisman race.
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Through six games, he has the Crimson Tide with the top-ranked scoring offense (47.2 ppg) and total offense (555.2 mpg) in the Southeastern Conference.
Jones also has the Tide with the No. 1 scoring offense and No. 3 total offense in all of college football. Alabama is 6-0 this season and prior to facing the LSU Tigers, it has been the marriage of Jones with Steve Sarkisian at offensive coordinator that’s brought balance on offense.
While the Tide has scored at least 40 points in five straight games, Jones leads the SEC for completion percentage, passing yards, passer rating, total quarterback rating and raw quarterback rating.
He has completed 78.5% of his throws (139 of 177) for 2,196 yards with 16 touchdowns to two interceptions. The junior has faced quality defenses in a 10-game, conference-only schedule and has dominated them.
According to Emil Ekiyor Jr., the redshirt sophomore at right guard is not surprised by Jones’ success.
“I expected this from Joker,” Ekiyor said on Wednesday. “He has balled out. When he took over for Tua and all through camp and everything, so I have all the confidence in the world in Mac. I feel like he is going to continue what he is doing.”
In the same way Tua Tagovailoa got Jaylen Waddle to pop as a freshman in 2018, Jones got John Metchie to pop this season behind DeVonta Smith. The relationship between these two started in the 2019 A-Day Game and it grew from there.
Both players worked out over the summer and Metchie has 24 receptions for 517 yards with three scores. He has been added to the Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list and is proud of Jones.
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“I think what Mac has done best is take control of the offense and lead the offense as a whole,” Metchie said.
When it comes to Jones wanting to prove people wrong, Metchie said that is the team’s goal.
Jones and the Tide are locked on to winning a championship. A date with the Tigers lies ahead next week.
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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.
