In 2018, Alabama had a pair of talented quarterbacks capable of being starters in Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts. Behind them on the depth chart was Mac Jones, who saw how the duo handled the situation, which resulted in Hurts being Tagovailoa’s backup.

Now, Jones has ascended to the starting job entering the 2020 season. But he also has a talented backup in true freshman Bryce Young, who was a 5-star recruit per the 247Sports Composite rankings. And Jones wants to utilize what he saw from the Tagovailoa/Hurts dynamic.

“Jalen and Tua did it right,” Jones said when speaking to the media Tuesday. “Whoever was in the game at the time tried to do their job to the best of their ability, and that’s all you can do really, you can’t focus on everything else, the what-ifs, the this and thats.”

Jones knows that something could happen during a game that could necessitate Young coming in to lead the offense. If that happens, Jones is confident Young would be able to succeed.

“We have a good relationship,” Jones said. “He comes out to practice every day and he puts his head down and works, and he does what he’s supposed to do. As the starting quarterback looking down and seeing him doing his job makes me feel comfortable that if he has to step in the game, he can do his job.”

But for now, it’s Jones’ job. The redshirt junior is entering a season as the starter for the first time, but he has some experience. Last season, he passed for 1,503 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions in 11 games. He started four of the Crimson Tide’s last five games as Tagovailoa went down with a season-ending hip injury.

Jones is now set to lead Alabama in its 2020 season opener on Saturday as the Crimson Tide travel to take on Missouri at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.