Mac Jones Proves in Citrus Bowl That Alabama Will Be Just Fine if Tua Tagovailoa Heads to NFL

When you're one of college football's most storied programs, you boast the riches necessary to overcome an injury to a generational talent.

That's exactly the case with Alabama and Tua Tagovailoa's season-ending hip surgery. Sure, the injury probably cost Nick Saban and Co. a shot at the College Football Playoff, but, let's face it, they weren't going anywhere without their superstar QB.

Out of the shadows has emerged Mac Jones, who proved in Wednesday's Citrus Bowl blowout over Michigan that the Crimson Tide will be just fine if Tua enters his name into the 2020 NFL Draft.

That 85-yard, beautifully-weighted rainbow to Jerry Jeudy was just the start of a sensational afternoon for Jones.

The sophomore signal caller completed 16=of-25 pass attempts for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Those stats, though impressive, don't tell the whole story.

Jones was incredibly efficient on third down and remarkably composed in the pocket against Michigan's "vaunted" defensive front. Wednesday was a statement game for the young QB, and he passed the test.

Had Jones struggled, questions would have emerged, and rightfully so, about whether or not he was deserving of the No. 1 spot on the depth chart in 2020.

Instead, he balled out against a Big Ten defense that was allowing just 19.5 points per game coming in, and the Crimson Tide faithful should be feeling awfully encouraged heading into the offseason regardless of what happens.