One of the most highly sought players in college at the quarterback position has made a decision.
Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa announced today in a press conference with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban that he will enter the 2020 NFL Draft, which is set for April 23 in Paradise, Nevada.
The decision doesn’t come as a surprise, as the star quarterback has done everything he possibly could at the University of Alabama. Tagovailoa led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship and an SEC Championship during his three years as quarterback for Alabama.
In his first year (2017) as a freshman quarterback, Tagovailoa played in just five games behind then-starting Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts due to blowouts.
But he would get his chance in the National Championship game versus the Georgia Bulldogs, when Saban benched Hurts in the second half due to ineffective play. Tagovailoa would lead the Crimson Tide to a National Championship after a go-ahead touchdown pass to then-freshman wide receiver DeVonta Smith in overtime. Tua finished the game 14 of 24 with 166 yards and three touchdowns, as well as the Offensive MVP of the game in a 26-23 victory.
Despite suffering a couple injuries ‑‑ including a left quad versus Mississippi State and a left ankle versus Georgia in the SEC Championship game in 2018 and a high ankle sprain against Tennessee this past season ‑‑ Tua finished his career with 87 touchdowns, 7,442 yards passing and just 11 interceptions.
Tua’s pinpoint accuracy, touch, high intelligence in the pocket and scrambling ability will be very appealing to NFL franchises moving forward. Tua is a left-handed Russell Wilson, and is projected to be the second quarterback taken in the draft behind LSU’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow.
Written by Robert Magobet
