Will the New England Patriots have a different starting quarterback in the fall?
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The answer to this question begins Wednesday as the team starts training camp. New England returns Cam Newton on another one-year contract, but it selected Mac Jones at No. 15 overall in the NFL Draft. Jones, an alumnus of the University of Alabama, performed well in rookie minicamp and mandatory minicamp.
He has developed a relationship with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and has earned Bill Belichick’s respect.
Jones was the first quarterback on the field and the second player overall.
Mac Jones not letting any other quarterbacks beat him to the field as he’s first out on the field, second only to Nelson Agholor.
(🎥 via @NBCSCameraGuys) pic.twitter.com/bv5RJCTUgO
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) July 28, 2021
He thrived in his lone season as a starter for the Crimson Tide. Jones set a single-season school record for passing yards (4,500) and tossed 41 touchdowns. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., he recorded the highest completion percentage (77.4) in college football history, while leading all signal-callers in passer rating (203.1) and total quarterback rating (96.1). Jones guided the Tide to an undefeated national championship in 2020, and he was one of three Heisman finalists.
He won multiple awards for his efforts and earned Consensus All-American honors. Jones is the second quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) at Alabama in the Nick Saban era to be selected in the first round of the draft.
Crimson Tide fans want to see him get a chance at the starting job for the Patriots.
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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.
