Mac Jones will take the field tonight for his second NFL preseason game with the New England Patriots.
Before he faces the Eagles, Jones became the fourth student-athlete from the University of Alabama to win a prestigious award.
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According to the College Sports Information Directors of America or CoSIDA, the former Crimson Tide quarterback was named the Academic All-American of the Year for his efforts in 2020. Jones led Alabama to a Southeastern Conference title and a College Football Playoff National Championship last season. He guided the Tide to its second perfect season of the Nick Saban era.
Honoring the top scholar-athlete in the nation, @MacJones_10.
👏👏👏https://t.co/ei8SnhkSOL#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/KxvHhxOS5f
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 19, 2021
He joins Brooke Pancake (women’s golf/2012), Barrett Jones (football/2013), and Kim Jacob (gymnastics/2014) in earning the honor that recognizes the top scholar-athlete in the nation regardless of sport or gender. Jones was dominant on the field, but he was just as exceptional in the classroom. He graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average for his bachelor’s degree in communications studies in 2019 while maintaining a 4.0 GPA in the graduate program to earn his master’s degree in sports hospitality in December of 2020. Jones was the star student and the starting quarterback that silenced all critics.
He set a single-season school record for passing yards (4,500) and had 41 touchdown passes. Jones was the recipient of the Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and Manning awards. He was one of five finalists for the Heisman Trophy and finished the 2020 season as a Consensus All-American. Jones led the nation with a 201.1 passer rating and a 96.1 total quarterback rating.
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He was selected at No. 15 overall by the Patriots in the NFL Draft.
Jones is pushing for the starting quarterback job, and he might earn it this season. He is competing against Cam Newton, but everyone in New England sees the value of Jones. Alabama fans are proud of the young man he has become.
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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.
