Jaylen Waddle joins DeVonta Smith in preferring Mac Jones over Tua Tagovailoa as their favorite Alabama football star quarterback.
If former Alabama football star Jaylen Waddle had to pick only one Crimson Tide quarterback, he is siding with his fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith and taking Mac Jones over Tua Tagovailoa.
Waddle was asked this question by Andrew Siciliano of The NFL Network only weeks after Smith had to answer this one himself down at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Was Waddle put on the spot by Siciliano? Absolutely, but he did a fine job answering the hard-hitting question, thoroughly and honestly. However, him picking a side so effortlessly speaks volumes.
“I like Mac Jones, too,” said Waddle to Siciliano. “Just my preference. Both of them are great quarterbacks, but I love Mac. He was the guy I came in with and from day one, we were on the third team together and we worked our way up.”
Why do all these Alabama wide receivers prefer Jones over Tagovailoa?
It may be as simple as, “what have you done for me lately?” Together, Jones, Smith and Waddle guided the Crimson Tide to an undefeated national championship. Alabama’s offense was prolific under former coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Jones won the Davey O’Brien, running back Najee Harris took home the Doak Walker and Smith became the first receiver to win the Heisman since 1991.
Though Waddle missed the bulk of the 2020 season due to injury, it is apparent he appreciated the grind he shared with Jones on the come-up in the Alabama system. The rapport they built over several years in Tuscaloosa was undeniable. Jones was one of the best deep-ball throwers in recent college football history. Few receivers were as elusive as Waddle.
It may only be a preference, but this does feel like an indictment of the Miami Dolphins quarterback as well as a strong endorsement of Jones who continues to see his draft stock soar.
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