BIOGRAPHY
Mac Jones was born September 5, 1998, in Jacksonville, Florida. Jones began playing American football at five, for which he received Pop Warner Scholar recognition. Jones would later play high school football at The Bolles School. After originally committing to the University of Kentucky, Jones accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Alabama. Jones arrived as an early enrollee, but was redshirted his freshman season in 2017. After throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns in the Crimson Tide's spring game, Jones was named A-Day MVP. In the 2018 season, Jones appeared in 14 of the Crimson Tide's 15 games, mostly as a holder on special teams. Jones added his name to the Alabama record book with a 94-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle, the second-longest in school history, in a win against Louisiana-Lafayette. Jones served as the starting QB for the second half of the 2019 season after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a severe hip injury. Jones made four starts for the Tide, beating Arkansas and Western Carolina before falling to Auburn in the Iron Bowl, despite throwing for four touchdowns and 335 yards. Jones then led Alabama to a 35–16 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Jones finished 2019 with 14 TD passes for 1,503 yards in 11 games. With Tagovailoa departing for the 2020 NFL Draft, Jones would take over as Alabama's starting quarterback. In a game against the #3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, Jones threw for 417 yards and 4 touchdowns, helping Alabama win 41–24. On Halloween night, Jones and the Tide shut out Mississippi State 41–0. Jones threw for 291 yards and 4 TDs, all of which went to Devonta Smith. In the Iron Bowl against Auburn, Jones threw for 302 yards and 5 touchdowns. The following week, Jones threw for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns against the LSU Tigers. With the win, the Tide clinched a berth in the 2020 SEC Championship Game against the Florida Gators. There, Jones threw for 418 yards and 5 touchdowns, with Alabama winning 52–46. They were then selected to take on Notre Dame in the 2021 Rose Bowl semifinal game, where he would throw four touchdown passes on route to a 31–14 win.
Alabama would go on to win the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes 52–24, with Jones throwing for 464 yards and 5 touchdowns. Jones would finish the season throwing for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. He was named the recipient of the Davey O'Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and Manning Awards. He was also named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which went to his teammate DeVonta Smith, the first wide receiver to win the award since 1991. Following the season, Jones announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2021 NFL Draft. He was drafted 15th by the New England Patriots.
