Alabama redshirt quarterback Mac Jones, a finalist for the Heisman 2020 Trophy, announced on Thursday that he will abandon his senior season in Tuscaloosa and prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones was joined by wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, defender Patrick Surtain II and striker Christian Barmore as Tide underclassmen who will not return for the 2021 season. This was just three days after Alabama overcame Ohio State 52-24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Jones completed 77.4% of his passes (311 of 402) for 4,500 yards and posted a passer rating of 203.06 – all leading the country. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy by voting behind his teammate and winner DeVonta Smith and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He is potential customer number 25 and the fifth quarterback in the most recent ranking of draft candidates for the CBS Sports NFL.
Waddle suffered an ankle injury on October 24, but came back during the game for the national title to get some snaps. He had 1,999 receiving yards, 17 receiving touchdowns, 733 punt callback yards, two punt callback touchdowns, 214 kickback yards and a touchdown kickback during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa. He is player number 9 in the overall ranking of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Surtain II was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, granted to the country’s main defense. He had 37 tackles and one interception in 2020, and ended his three-year career with four interceptions and 116 tackles. He is No. 13 overall and No. 2 cornerback in the last rankings of CBS Sports.
Barmore had five tackles, two for loss and one sack in the national title game against Ohio, and ended his second season in a red shirt with 9.5 tackles for defeat. He is number 27 in general perspective and the second defensive lineman in the next draft.
There was a notable player who decided to return to Crimson Tide as well. Striker Phidarian Mathis announced on Twitter that he will try again in Tuscaloosa in 2021. The deadline for first-year students to declare themselves for the draft is Monday, January 18th.