Selecting Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 NFL Draft seems like it would be a no-brainer for Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney — that is, if he coached in the NFL.
The former Alabama quarterback announced Monday that he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. He’s unquestionably one of the best quarterbacks and players in general in this year’s draft class, but concerns about his health may hurt his stock. In the last two seasons, Tagovailoa had two ankle surgeries and one hip surgery to repair a season-ending injury he suffered in November.
Depending on who you ask, he could be the second quarterback drafted after projected No. 1 pick Joe Burrow or he could fall out of the first round. But Swinney — who faced Tagovailoa once when Clemson rocked Alabama in the 2018-19 national championship game — made it clear who he’d push for if he was in the pros.
“From a talent aspect, he’s awesome. If I was in the NFL, I’d be taking Tua.”
Dabo Swinney has some high praise for Tua Tagovailoa 👏 pic.twitter.com/7JvEO0zabN
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 11, 2020
Speaking about Tagovailoa at the College Football Playoff national championship game media day Saturday in New Orleans, Swinney said:
“Tua is special. He’s one of the best quarterbacks we’ve seen come through the college ranks. Awesome person. I mean, just a phenomenal young man. I reached out to him when he got hurt and communicated with him a little bit. He’s been so good for the game, just what he represents. Obviously, didn’t get to coach him, but I know full well what type of teammate he was and the type of leader. I know Coach [Nick] Saban has a great appreciation for that, as well, and the mark that he left on their program. But he impacted a lot of people through his platform at the University of Alabama playing quarterback.
“But from a talent standpoint, I mean, he’s awesome. I mean, if I was in the NFL, I’d be taking Tua because he’s a winner. He’s a very savvy, smart, instinctive player. He’s tough. He’s got a great heart. He’s gonna make everybody else around him better, and those are qualities that you want to have in a quarterback. So he’s got a great future, and he’ll heal up, get well, and he’ll make a great player for somebody.”
Against Mississippi State in November, Tagovailoa suffered a dislocated hip with a posterior wall fracture, but he had successful hip surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.
Prior to his season-ending injury this season, Tagovailoa had a 71.4 completion percentage, averaged 11.3 yards per pass and threw for 33 touchdowns compared with just three interceptions.
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