Alabama Football: 5 biggest surprises from Tide’s 2019 season

5. Mac Jones’ play

Prior to the Tide’s Oct. 19 bout with Tennessee, backup quarterback Mac Jones hadn’t thrown more than 10 passes in any single college game to date. But the second quarter ankle injury to Tua Tagovailoa thrust Jones into action. He didn’t blow anyone away, completing 6-of-11 passes for just 72 yards, but the Tide held a two-score lead when he entered and won the game 35-13.

In Jones’ first start the following week, Jones torched the Arkansas defense for 235 yards and three scores on 18-of-22 passing. The defense chipped in, holding the Razorbacks to just seven points, but Jones orchestrated the offense beautifully. The ground game was efficient, too, totaling a whopping 179 yards and two scores on 39 carries, but something in Jones made Tide fans’ believers.

With an open week following Jones’ first start, questions about Tagovailoa’s health swirled. After all, their upcoming opponent was the LSU Tigers, a game the Tide desperately needed to remain in the College Football Playoff picture; Jones wouldn’t attempt a pass. Tagovailoa would suffer a season-ending injury a week later against Mississippi State that forced Jones into action again. He completed 7-of-11 passes for 94 yards in a game that was already decided.

In Jones’ three starts down the stretch (vs. Western Carolina, at Auburn, vs. Michigan in the Citrus Bowl), Jones was surprisingly good. He completed 68 percent of his passes, accumulated 973 total yards and threw for 10 touchdowns.

Not bad for a kid who held a clipboard much of the season. Add the fact that he was just a three-star recruit, and Jones’ play was a surprise to everybody.