TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Mac Jones will make his first start this Saturday against Arkansas.

The redshirt sophomore quarterback will start behind center in place of injured Tua Tagovailoa, who underwent a successful tight-rope procedure Sunday to repair a high ankle sprain, will miss the Week 9 home game and will begin extensive rehab after a 10-day period.

Jones has appeared in 20 games over his 3-year Alabama career as a reserve quarterback and holder on field goals and extra points, but only a handful of his snaps in games have come with the first-team offense. Still, his teammates are confident ahead of Jones’ spot start.

“We’ve done well historically with backup quarterbacks,” tight end Miller Forristall said.

“I’ve got as much faith in Mac as I’ve got in any quarterback here. He’s sat here and practiced against our defense for three years. MVP of the spring game. He can throw the crap out of the ball. It’s not like our playbook gets limited or we stop attacking down the field.

“We’ve got to roll just the same as we always do.”

The former 3-star prospect in the 2017 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite, has thrown for 237 yards, one touchdown and one interception while completing 62.5 percent (20-32) of his passes in six games played. He has also scored a rushing touchdown.

Jones replaced Tagovailoa in the second quarter of the Tennessee game and threw for 72 yards on 6-11 passing. He was also sacked once for a 10-yard loss. The drive Jones was forced into unexpected action ended in a punt, while the final five series ended in a field goal attempt, a punt, a Slade Bolden-to-Forristall touchdown, a punt and a turnover on downs.

“I think that he didn’t do anything that really hurt us in the game,” head coach Nick Saban said. “I think that he had two balls that were dropped that were critical situations in the game. The one play that he scrambled on third down where he could have thrown the ball, I would assume that if you asked him he’d say, ‘I wish I would have thrown the ball,’ because we would have made a first down and the guy was open.

“All in all, I thought he handled the situation really well. It’s a difficult circumstance to get thrown into. We’ve got a lot of confidence in Mac. With a week of preparation, I think he’ll do a lot better in this game.”

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones

Forristall echoed that, stating, “It’s tough to command with no rhythm. You’re not warm. He’ll be prepped and ready to go for Arkansas. I’d expect to see him come out guns blazing.”

With Tagovailoa sidelined for the next game, Jones will see the majority of the first-team reps this week in practice, which should benefit him greatly during the Homecoming game. But he has already developed some chemistry with the receivers he’ll be throwing to Saturday.

“We practice situations, we practice with every receiver, so he has relationships,” wide receiver Henry Ruggs III said. “He knows what we like and what we don’t like, so he’ll be ready.”

A lot of the Crimson Tide players call Jones “Joker.” Ruggs said it stems from the quarterback being a jokester and a “great-hearted guy” in the locker room. Forristall said it is also due to the way he laughs, which is similar to the Batman villain, with a “high-pitched cackle.”

Saban said he sometimes refers to Jones as “John McEnroe” -- or at least he did -- because of the emotional way the Jacksonville, Fla., native reacted to things when they didn’t go as planned on the field. Jones has matured since the birth of that nickname, and Forristall said the emotion the signal-caller brings to the field is now something his teammates “love and appreciate.”

“I think with Mac, it’s not a matter of arm talent or ability,” Saban said. “It’s staying focused and being able to execute on a consistent basis and make good choices and decisions and not think about it too much and just take what the defense gives. When he’s done that, he’s been very, very effective, and that’s what we’ve worked with him on throughout the season.”

First first time since 2004 when Brodie Croyle went down, Alabama’s starting quarterback will miss a game because of an injury. The Tide likely needs a healthy Tagovailoa in order to win a national title, but the team is confident Jones can get the job done this weekend.

“I think a lot of people underestimate Mac Jones,” Forristall said.

“I don’t think they know how good he’s going to be or how good he is. That’s something where it’s always been that -- ‘What’s going to happen after Tua?’ Mac Jones is really good.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).