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How Alabama's Mac Jones grew into Heisman finalist with help of Oklahoma QB coach Joe Dickinson: 'I knew he had staying power'

Sitting inside a Tuscaloosa, Alabama, lunch spot 10 months ago, Joe Dickinson broke everything down for his latest protege Mac Jones.

Alabama’s quarterback had plenty of receiving weapons — DeVonta Smith, John Metchie and Jaylen Waddle among others — who could make his life easier.

The Crimson Tide had a strong running back in Najee Harris.

Then Dickinson said something intriguing for a February afternoon. If Jones wasn’t careful, he could fool around and win the Heisman Trophy.

Jones, in his bashful and humble manner, laughed it off. Surely, it was a joke.

But it wasn’t.