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When we think of college football legends, we often think of those who have scored the most touchdowns, broken the most records, won the most championships, or even who won a Heisman. But Jalen Hurts is different.

Sure, he’s won an SEC Championship, a National Championship, and now a Big 12 Championship, but in all honesty, it’s who Jalen Hurts is as a person, how he carries himself and how he presents himself, that has made him a college football legend.

When Jalen Hurts was at Alabama, he went 26-2 as a starter. His freshman stats were impeccable: He threw for 2,780 yards, 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions, while also rushing for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Hurts then went on to finish his sophomore season with 2,081 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, and one interception, as well as 855 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. But, probably what fans remember the most about Hurts was him being replaced by Tua Tagovailoa in the second half of the National Championship as Alabama went on to beat Georgia 26-23 in overtime after Tagavailoa’s miraculous 2nd & 26 throw to DeVonta Smith for the win.

When you take a moment to realize that in 2 seasons, Hurts had a combined total of 4,861 yards passing, 1,809 yards rushing, 40 TDs, 10 INT, and 21 rushing touchdowns, it’s mind blowing.

But, it’s not the stats that made him a legend. It’s what happened in 2018, that truly defined Jalen Hurts.

In a previous article I’ve written called Jalen Hurts: An Alabama Legend, I go on to explain how Jalen Hurts ultimately had two choices after being replaced by Tagovailoa, after putting up impressive numbers and going 26-2 as a starter. He could have either:

1. Gotten upset and transferred

2. Or chosen to stay, be humble, be a team player and support your team, and use the rest of that season to grow as an athlete and as a person.

Jalen Hurts obviously chose the latter. He chose to stick it out, when so many others would’ve left. He used the rest of the season to learn and grow (and even came in for an injured Tagovailoa and won the SEC Championship game,) and because of that, it equipped him to be the starting quarterback, and an important leader, at Oklahoma.

When you look at what Jalen Hurts has done at Oklahoma as a senior, it’s more than impressive. Hurts has thrown for 3,347 yards, 31 TDs, 6 INT, and has a 90.5 QBR.

And in his career, he’s gone 38-3 as a starter. INCREDIBLE.

But, once again, it’s more than stats that have made Jalen Hurts loved in two different states, by two different programs, in two different conferences. It’s truly who Jalen Hurts is as a person, and a leader, that has helped both Alabama and Oklahoma fans root for No. 1 when he’s on the field.

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley and the entire Sooners team has raved about Hurts and his leadership and character all season. In post game interviews, Hurts is quick to take personal responsibility for mistakes, but even quicker to give his team the credit for the wins. He’s never completely satisfied after a win, probably a trait Nick Saban rubbed off on him. But it’s what has made Jalen Hurts become who he is. After all, he was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

All in all, it’s simple to say that Jalen Hurts will go down in history as one of the best, and most loved, players to ever play the game of College Football.

He never quit on himself or his team, even after being replaced.

He never gave up on his dream of being a star quarterback, and transferred (with Saban’s blessing) to Oklahoma, where once again, he has become a household name.

And that’s one of the MANY reasons why ESPN needs to one day do a 30 for 30 for Hurts, and tell his story. A story that could inspire and motivate millions of people all over the World.

But, before that happens, Jalen Hurts still has business to take care of. After winning the Big 12 Championship, and with Utah and Georgia losing, Oklahoma has a big chance of playing in the College Football Playoff.

And if that happens, Jalen Hurts would be the first quarterback to ever play in four straight CFB Playoffs. And I can guarantee you that Alabama fans will cheer just as hard for Jalen as Oklahoma fans do if they play in the playoffs.

But, regardless of what happens, and even if Oklahoma doesn’t win the National Championship, Jalen Hurts is still a winner, and he will always be a college football legend.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about winning national titles and breaking records, it’s about leaving an impact, and leaving a program better than you found it, and that’s exactly what Jalen Hurts has done, for two different programs in two entirely different conferences.

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