When quarterback Mac Jones signed with Alabama in 2017 as a three-star prospect, he joined a Crimson Tide program that contained Jalen Hurts, the 2016 Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year as a freshman, and fellow signee Tua Tagovailoa, who entered Tuscaloosa with five-star status.
Yet there was Jones on Thursday afternoon, appearing in a news conference via Zoom to announce the redshirt junior’s intention to leave early for the NFL, along with former star-studded recruits such as junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II, junior receiver Jaylen Waddle and redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Christian Barmore.
“It’s been a great journey,” Jones said. “I’ve played every role you can imagine, from scout team to the starter.”
A fifth Tide player, redshirt junior inside linebacker Dylan Moses, also declared for the 2021 NFL draft Thursday but revealed his decision through social media.
Jones is the least-heralded quarterback signee of the Nick Saban era who wound up starting, but he was anything but unheralded this past season. He completed 311 of 402 passes (77.4%) for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions.