Tim Tebow gives glowing endorsement of Alabama QB Mac Jones

Tim Tebow is a big fan of fellow Jacksonville, Florida native Mac Jones.

Tim Tebow just gave a big ringing endorsement of Alabama football’s Mac Jones on SEC Nation.

When it comes to who should be starting Week 1 for the Alabama Crimson Tide when they take on the Missouri Tigers up in Columbia, Tebow firmly believes it has to be Jones over the true freshman Bryce Young. While Young is the more talented player, Jones’ big game experience and leadership may be the reason he wins out and earns the starting job for Nick Saban in 2020.

“We’ve talked about how heroes need to step up,” said Tebow. “One of those heroes could be Mac Jones. Every opportunity he’s had, he has stepped up and he has performed.”

“People want to go back to the Iron Bowl and the two picks. Yeah, but he led his team down the field over and over again. This kid is for real, not only because he’s a Jacksonville boy, but because he’s a baller. I think he has a chance to step up and be one of the best players in the SEC this year.”

When will Mac Jones have to step up to help Alabama football win big?

Alabama should be able to win its first game of the season, regardless of who plays quarterback for the Crimson Tide. Missouri is rebuilding under first-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz. It might be a home game for the Tigers, but they are not ready for the juggernaut Crimson Tide to come to CoMO and put them in their place. Though it’s a good bit away from Tuscaloosa, Alabama will roll.

Though we should expect Young to play at least a little bit next week, a big challenge for the Crimson Tide comes in two weeks for their home opener vs. the Texas A&M Aggies. Alabama should be able to defeat Jimbo Fisher’s team, but being at a quarterbacking disadvantage is something Saban may not tolerate. Texas A&M has an excellent one in starter Kellen Mond.

Even if Jones struggles vs. Texas A&M, it may not be enough to allow the Crimson Tide to succumb to their first defeat of the season. Heck, he could play poorly vs. the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford in Week 3 and the Crimson Tide should get to 3-0. However, the only thing that matters for the Crimson Tide at quarterback is who is starting in Week 4 vs. the Georgia Bulldogs at home.

Because this season will not count towards any player’s eligibility, Saban doesn’t have to worry about giving Young the starting job, as long as he gets enough playing time this fall. No, this isn’t a Jalen Hurts vs. Tua Tagovailoa quarterbacking controversy. Jones may be now, but we all know that Young is next. Both will play this year, but it wouldn’t be shocking if Young prevails over Jones.

Tebow may see big things in his fellow Jacksonville native’s future, but how definite is Jones’ ceiling as an SEC passer? Can he be a top-three quarterback in the conference? He wasn’t recognized as one by the SEC coaches, who picked Florida’s Kyle Trask, Mond and Auburn’s Bo Nix as their First, Second and Third-Team Preseason All-SEC quarterbacks. So that’s not ideal.

The great news for Jones and the Crimson Tide is they don’t have to face Georgia at home right out of the gate. The Dawgs may have their issues at quarterback as well as Jamie Newman opted out. Though it looks like D’Wan Mathis will get the starting job, JT Daniels looms large in the UGA quarterback room, as he works his way back from a torn ACL. This is the game Alabama must win.

While Tebow heaps massive praise on Jones, the best thing for him is to begin the year at 3-0.

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