Jumbo Package: With new NCAA ruling, might Mac Jones be a three year starter?

Happy Monday, everyone. Practice is heating up, and Michael Casagrande has a few highlights for you.

Of course, the quarterbacks are going to be the topic du jour.

“Well, I think Mac Jones has taken more of a personal role,” receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “He is more confident. He is really leading the team, you know, he came in late last year. It was more of, you know, a process of him getting better and more confident with the offense. Now, he is looking really, really good.”

Both Jones and Young spent time with receivers doing unofficial workouts before practice could begin at the complex. Waddle said that added up to more reps than usual.

“So,” he said, “I think the chemistry is just continuing to get better over time.”

I think everyone realizes that Bryce Young is more naturally gifted to play the position, but’s going to be tough to supplant a guy like Mac Jones who has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches. Not to look into the future or anything, but with the additional year of eligibility afforded by the NCAA, Mac could conceivably be a full three year starter. I will leave all of the ramifications of that for you to discuss.

Oh, I will also leave this little nugget for you from Matt Zenitz.

Have fun.

Ohio State parents are planning a protest in Columbus next Saturday, organized by Shaun Wade’s father.

As noted, Wade is trying to get fans involved as well, hoping for “thousands.” Meanwhile, Garrett Stepien at 247 reports that every single AD in the Big Ten wanted a fall season.

In NFL notes, Jalen Hurts made a young fan’s day by having the kid’s name stitched on a backpack and tweeting a picture.

“We thought he would want Cam Newton just like his brother,” Godfrey told nj.com. “I googled it. I went online to the NFL Shop and Amazon, and I could not find anything. The Jalen Hurts backpack just did not exist. Like a 6-year-old, he was a little upset and wanted that backpack.”

So Godfrey turned to her mother, and “Mimi” and her sewing machine came through for her grandson, stitching Hurts’ name and number on a blue backpack.

It’s always amazing how two kids can grow up in the same household and one grow up good and moral while the other roots for Newton.

Joking, people.

Dre Kirkpatrick finally got signed.

Kirkpatrick became the third cornerback signed by the Cardinals since Alford’s injury, joining Ken Crawley and B.W. Webb.

Kirkpatrick is the most accomplished of the trio, although he played only six games in 2019 after sustaining a knee injury.

Hopefully he’s recovered and can make some noise. That’s exactly what Trevon Diggs is doing in Cowboys’ camp.

That’s about it for today. Have a great week.

Roll Tide.