Joey Jones knows fast.

Jones, now the Mississippi State special teams coordinator, was an All-SEC wide receiver at Alabama in the early 1980s under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. He was known for his speed as much as his diminutive size.

So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that as his Bulldogs prepare to host Alabama on Saturday, the former South Alabama head coach is fully aware of Jaylen Waddle.

“They are very special in that regard,” Jones, who joined Lee Shirvanian and me on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 on Tuesday, said of Alabama’s special teams’ star. “That guy is a threat to return every punt for a touchdown or a big return.”

He proved that in Alabama’s 46-41 loss to LSU.

The Alabama receiver took in an LSU punt, down 10-0 late in the first quarter, avoided a tackle, changed direction, then ran 77 yards for the Tide’s first and only score of the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Jaylen Waddle was spun in another direction by an LSU defender, and it resulted in a touchdown. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/d1iLPunVWM — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 9, 2019

“That guy’s awesome, isn’t he?” Jones asked. “He’s a heck of a returner. I haven’t seen anybody like him.”

Alabama leads the country in the punt return category. The Tide is averaging 24.88 yards a punt return and has racked up 423 yards this season - both lead the nation.

“He’s so explosive, and he makes people miss,” Jones said of Waddle. "You kick the ball on a punt, and you try to pin him to the boundary. If you give him a crack to the field, he’s just got the speed to the field and makes you miss.

“He changes directions kind of like David Palmer. That one-step cut, he’s running full-speed and makes a cut. He’s very explosive. I could see him not only as one of the best in college football, but he’s going to be a great success in the NFL.”

Jones signed with Alabama and earned a starting role as a sophomore in 1981, when the Crimson Tide won the last of its 13 SEC titles under Bryant.

He went 52-50 in nine seasons at South Alabama.

Alabama travels to Starkville to play Mississippi State on Saturday at 11 a.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.