Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is no stranger to notoriety, especially when it comes to being recognized for his high level of play. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr predicts the Dolphins rookie may be a potential candidate to be named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
While playing under Nick Saban at Alabama, Tagovailoa was named the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship MVP, 2018 Heisman finalist, Maxwell Award recipient, Walter Camp Award recipient, 2018 SEC Player of the year and Sporting News’ College Football Player of the Year.
If Tagovailoa wants to add another award to his lengthy resumé, it would likely have to be the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the year, Since the short-list for MVP is all but locked at this point.
Orr includes Tagovailoa’s name alongside Joe Burrow, Jonathan Taylor and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
“Joe Burrow is the only quarterback I’m putting on this list with any confidence,” writes Orr. “I think Justin Herbert will sit a good deal of the 2020 season and Tagovailoa should do the same in Miami. Since 2009, the award has gone receiver, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, running back, receiver, running back, quarterback, running back, running back and quarterback. Helaire is worth keeping an eye on. His talent was such that it forced Andy Reid to break with a longstanding habit of seeking running back value in the later rounds, which means that the Chiefs’ roster was either so complete otherwise that the move made sense, or Helaire was so good and potentially scheme integrable that he needed to be selected there.”
Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Tua Tagovailoa as he makes his way through year No. 1 in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.