Had it not been for two pick-sixes, Mac Jones would have had an Iron Bowl to remember.

The redshirt sophomore made his first-ever start on the road at Auburn on Saturday and led Alabama to 38 points. Despite the turnovers, Jones’ performance in the team’s regular-season finale impressed former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, he said in a radio interview.

“I thought Mac did an unbelievable job, to be honest,” McCarron told Ryan Fowler of Tide 100.9 FM on Tuesday. “Not only for it to be the third start of his, I think, long career that he’s going to have starting there, just to come into that game and only the people that have played in it truly understand just the competition in that game year in and year out, no matter what the records are and then having that much pressure on him to really play well and give the team and the program a chance to, if you win, to make the College Football Playoff probably, I just thought he did an unbelievable job.

“I’ve known Mac for a while, ever since he was getting close to deciding to come to Bama, and then I remember him reaching out to me and asking how much would it mean if he wore the No. 10. I just think he’s an awesome kid, and I think he has an unbelievably bright future there at the university.”

So Proud of you @MacJones_10 Hold your head high brother. One hell of a game! Super proud that you’re rocking that 10 for the BEST damn school in the Nation. #RTR4LIFE — AJ McCarron (@10AJMcCarron) December 1, 2019

At Auburn, Jones threw for a career-high 335 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. His 26 (of 39) completions traveled an average of 12.9 yards as he gave his receivers opportunities to make plays after the catch. After the Iron Bowl, Jones has 1,176 yards and 11 scores.

Jones and McCarron shared the same number, but McCarron sees similarities in the two.

“That’s one thing I’ve always kind of prided myself on while I was there was never giving another guy an opportunity to really take my job,” McCarron said. “Coming out, I loved playing with the guys that we had while I was there. We had some unbelievable players, just all-around good people, and I definitely see that in Mac. Listen, Mac’s a tough kid, and I felt like his situation coming into the university was kind of along my situation coming in.

“When I was there, coming in, you had Star Jackson and then Phillip (Sims) signed after me, so it was kind of like doubts about, ‘Why are you coming here? You’re never going to play.’ And I think Mac was in the same boat with having Jalen (Hurts) and then having Tua (Tagovailoa). People were questioning if he was ever going to play, or would he just be there just to be one of the guys. I think Mac’s extremely tough.”

Jones started three games this season with Tua Tagovailoa dealing with ankle and hip injuries, the latter ending his 2019 campaign. The three starts gave Jones prime opportunities to audition for the starting quarterback job in 2020 should Tagovailoa decide to declare for the draft.

Regardless of what Tagovailoa chooses, McCarron can’t wait to watch him play again.

“I think he’s just an awesome kid,” McCarron said of Tagovailoa. “He’s had a special there, and he’ll go down as one of the greats. Whether he doesn’t play another snap at Bama or he does, I think he’ll go down as one of the greatest players to ever play there. I think he’s just been a first-class guy that has represented the university well, his family well and I think he’s done an unbelievable job for the university. You can never say enough good things about him.

“I’m super proud of what he’s accomplished. And it’s been awesome to watch him play and grow as a player, and I wish him nothing but the best. I know that injury’s going to be a hard recovery process for him, and I just wish him the best. Hopefully, he gets well soon and is able to come spend some time in the league and I’ll get to see him on game days.”

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

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