The Senior Bowl helmet Jalen Hurts will wear pays tribute to both Alabama and Oklahoma.
Jalen Hurts is on his way back to Alabama … for the Senior Bowl in Mobile. The quarterback for both the Crimson Tide and Oklahoma has the perfect helmet to celebrate an elite college career.
— Ballin Down South Sports Network (@ballindsouth) January 21, 2020
Since both schools he attended have a crimson base as one of their colors, it made send to split the difference with half featuring OU and the other side with an Alabama look.
If you are an Alabama fan or Oklahoma supporter, you don’t have to choose: Boomer Sooner! and Roll Tide have come together in a great display of unity for Hurts.
If the New Orleans Saints lose Teddy Bridgewater, they could pick a quarterback like Jalen Hurts or Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The New Orleans Saints are headed for an offseason of uncertainty at quarterback. Even if Drew Brees returns for one more year as the face of the franchise, it’s no guarantee that his backup and heir apparent will follow him. Teddy Bridgewater deserves the opportunity to start next season, and there’s several teams who could offer that to him.
And as for Taysom Hill: his most exciting plays haven’t happened at quarterback. He’s become an effective receiving threat and runner in short-yardage situations, but his future shouldn’t include much more passing. He’ll turn 30 later this year and should continue to focus on where he’s most gifted, while he still has the athleticism to overwhelm defenders. He’s a restricted free agent, and it’s possible (but unlikely) he joins a new team, too.
But let’s say that Brees and Hill return, while Bridgewater gets the starting nod in another city. There are options the Saints could consider in free agency, and that’s normally been their strategy — plugging holes with veteran players so that the draft is wide-open. Still, maybe this year quarterback is more of a draft priority than something to target with free agents. Here are five names to watch (and no, a trade up for Joe Burrow isn’t even worth considering).
Transfer QBs and Clemson’s playoff resume are among our biggest takeaways from the 2019-20 college football season.
Welcome to Before The Snap, For The Win’s college football show where we’ll break down the sport’s trending storylines, examine each week’s biggest matchups and track the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy races.
Sadly, this means the 2019-20 college football season is officially over. But we’re here to break down two major takeaways from this season.
First up, let’s look at Clemson. The 2018-19 national champions had their College Football Playoff resume called into question all season, largely because of the Tigers’ strength of schedule in a declining ACC, plus their slow start to the season (by their standards).
But judging by Clemson’s performance in the playoff this season, even with the loss to LSU in the title game, and its dominant victory over Alabama to win the national championship last year, it’s clear two things can be true. Clemson can simultaneously play in a terrible conference and be one of the best two or three teams in the country. Even though it didn’t work out this season, the Tigers deserved their shot at a second straight title.
Looking at the 2019 season overall, perhaps the biggest takeaway is this was clearly the year of the transfer quarterback.
Three of the four College Football Playoff teams were led by transfer quarterbacks, who were all also Heisman Trophy finalists: LSU’s Burrow, Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts and Ohio State’s Justin Fields. There are plenty of players who flourish with the teams they commit to when they’re still in high school, but that’s not the case for everyone. There are a variety of reasons some might want to transfer, but the NCAA needs to make it easier for players to do so — especially when coaches freely and regularly change jobs.
Take Burrow, for example. He didn’t have the starting job at Ohio State a few years ago, and transferring to LSU, a program of the same caliber, changed his life. Had he not transferred, there’s a chance he would have remained on the Buckeyes’ bench throughout his college career, meaning he wouldn’t have won the Heiman and wouldn’t currently be the projected No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick.
Similarly, had Hurts not transferred from Alabama, he would have remained Tua Tagovailoa’s backup and would have only started late in the season following Tagovailoa’s season-ending injury. Hurts played that game during the 2018 season, and it worked out for him in the end. But he transferred to Oklahoma, a program where he started in a system that allowed him to excel even more.
If Fields had stayed with Georgia, he most likely would have remained on the bench behind Jake Fromm. Instead, he led Ohio State’s high-powered and dynamic offense, and after only finishing his sophomore season, his future in college football is looking good.
Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling updates and expands his latest mock for the 2020 NFL draft, covering the first four rounds with new projections
We’re down to just four teams remaining in the NFL Playoffs, as another wild week of postseason action sent another disappointing quartet back to the drawing board to prepare for the offseason.
At the same time, the college football landscape is buzzing, with the national championship game taking place Monday night, and the all-star circuit already in full swing for some of this year’s top prospects. Shrine Game practices kick off this week, while the Senior Bowl awaits in Mobile next week.
As draft stock continues to shift, underclassmen make their declarations, and the selection order becomes more secure, here’s an updated look at how the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated order:
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow | QB | LSU
The last time the Bengals had this pick, they spent it on a Heisman-winning quarterback in Carson Palmer. 17 years later, Cincy’s hoping to land another franchise quarterback in Burrow, who has been dominant all year long despite facing stiff competition. Only an elite QB prospect would be worth passing up Chase Young, but Burrow is exactly that.
2. Washington Redskins
Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State
For the second straight year, the team picking No. 2 gets the No. 1 prospect. Washington has bigger needs elsewhere, but Young is a generational talent who would be the rare “bargain” at this pick. A complete player who can take over a game all on his own, Young is one of the best pass-rushing prospects we’ve seen in years.
3. Detroit Lions
Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State
This defense has needs at every level, so this pick is about getting the best value anywhere they can. Trading down would be ideal, likely for a team targeting a franchise quarterback, but Okudah is the most worthy candidate for this pick if they stay put. He’s the best of a corner class that could produce a handful of first-round picks.
4. New York Giants
Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia
You won’t find a more old-school general manager than Dave Gettleman, so don’t be surprised when he spends this pick on improving the offensive trenches. If Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones are going to rebuild this offense, they’ll need plenty of improvement up front. Thomas is a franchise left tackle who will be pro-ready from Day 1.
5. Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama
They might have to move up to land him on draft day, but if Tagovailoa is still on the board here, it’s a no-brainer for the Dolphins. Assuming his medicals check out, Tagovailoa is an elite quarterback prospect with all the physical and mental tools to be the difference-maker Miami has been desperately seeking for years.
The Bengals will coach three big-name passers at the Senior Bowl.
The Cincinnati Bengals will coach a trio of interesting quarterback names at the 2020 Senior Bowl for the South team.
While there is always a chance Joe Burrow could still accept the invite, the three current names offer some interesting backgrounds and skillsets.
Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma: Hurts, 21, is a two-time SEC champion who has played in three national title games. He transferred from Alabama to Oklahoma for this past season. There, he put up 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns against eight interceptions while completing 69.7 percent of his passes with another 1,298 yards and 20 scores on the ground. Generally viewed as a likely Day 2 product, Hurts has shown steady improvement over the years and his plus-mobility is something NFL coaches will love in the current environment. The ceiling might not be as high as other passers, but Hurts could find success as a starter.
Justin Herbert, Oregon: Herbert, 21, was once considered a candidate for the top overall selection. He went back to school and won the Rose Bowl and The William V. Cambell Trophy on the back of a 66.8 completion percentage with 3,471 yards and 32 touchdowns against six interceptions. While the resume is good, concerns about whether he needs the perfect supporting cast to excel and his decisions in collapsing situations come up as question marks. But the upside is bound to make him a first-round pick.
Steven Montez, Colorado: Montez, 22, is generally viewed as a Day 3 passer with room to shoot up draft boards if escaping his collegiate offense and showing more flashes happens during the draft process. He completed 63.0 percent of his passes with 2,808 yards and 17 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in his fourth season recently, but struggles with full-field reads limited the offense. Whether that was by design or not will be key. He’s a big (6’5″) quarterback with just as big upside, but he needs a bigger Senior Bowl and draft process than most passers in the class.
Jim Nagy and the Senior Bowl announced Saturday that the Cincinnati Bengals will coach the South roster during the event.
During the announcement, quarterbacks were assigned to both teams, as seen in the graphic above. The Bengals will oversee Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Colorado’s Steven Montez.
That appears to be a much more interesting lineup than Detroit’s North squad, which might be intentional given Cincinnati’s grip on the first overall pick.
It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints to upgrade in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they’ve beaten worse odds before. They have just two picks in the draft’s first 100 selections ( at Nos. 24 and 88), which is more than they had last year. New …
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It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints to upgrade in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they’ve beaten worse odds before. They have just two picks in the draft’s first 100 selections (at Nos. 24 and 88), which is more than they had last year. New Orleans still found a way to land a starting center in Erik McCoy and a dynamic defensive back in C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Their next draft class could be just as big. In the latest three-round mock draft from Luke Easterling over at Draft Wire, the Saints ended up with Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs in the first round and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the third round.
Right now, the Saints are projected to start Marshon Lattimore on one side at cornerback, Janoris Jenkins on the other end of the field, and put Gardner-Johnson in the slot. That could change depending on what happens with Jenkins’ contract (he’s currently counting $11.5 million against the salary cap), but for now Diggs wouldn’t be projected to start.
That may not be a bad thing. He’s a big corner (listed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds) who converted to the position after being recruited as a wide receiver, and didn’t start consistently until his senior year, which saw him create five takeaways with three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. He deflected eight passes in total. The size and playmaking ability is there; maybe he’d put it all together after some hard work in Saints training camp.
As for Hurts: he’s one of the best quarterbacks in this draft class, and it would be surprising if he’s available so late in the process. His play greatly improved under Lincoln Riley’s tutelage at Oklahoma. He could duplicate much of what Taysom Hill has accomplished in New Orleans, but offers the upside of gifted passing ability on top of all-world athleticism. With the future of the quarterback position far from certain for the Saints, it’s easy to like this pick.
Herbert is coming off a Pac-12 title and a Rose Bowl victory in which he won MVP honors. He could lock himself into the QB3 spot in this year’s class behind LSU’s Joe Burrow and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa with a strong performance in Mobile.
Hurts’ season ended on a sour note in a frustrating loss to top-ranked LSU, but his unique college football journey was filled with impressive highs against some of the top competition in the country. His versatile skill set and impressive intangibles are likely to impress NFL decision-makers during this all-star audition.
Luke Easterling updates his three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft following a crazy Wild Card playoff round
The NFL Playoffs kicked off with a memorable Wild Card weekend, with all four games being decided by one score, including a pair of overtime thrillers.
While the postseason field has been whittled down to just eight teams on either side of the tournament, four more teams have been banished to an early offseason, joining the ranks of those preparing for a playoff run next season.
As the playoff push and offseason preparations continue, here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated order:
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow | QB | LSU
The Andy Dalton era needs to end, and the Bengals are in the perfect spot to take his successor. Burrow has not only been dominant all year long against top competition, he’s taken his game to another level on the game’s biggest stages at the SEC title game and the College Football Playoff.
2. Washington Redskins
Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State
Much like last year with the San Francisco 49ers and Nick Bosa, Washington lands the best overall prospect in this class at the No. 2 pick. Young is a rare pass rusher with an incredible combination of size, athleticism and explosiveness, making him a steal even this early.
3. Detroit Lions
Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State
This is the prime spot for a team to trade up for a quarterback, and I think they’d find a willing partner in the Lions, who have tons of needs to fill. If they stay here, Detroit has their pick of either a dominant interior force (Auburn’s Derrick Brown), or a blue-chip cover man in Okudah. They opt for the more premium position here.
4. New York Giants
Jedrick Wills | OT | Alabama
If Daniel Jones is going to reach his full potential, he’ll need a true franchise left tackle to keep him protected. The more I watch Wills, the more he separates himself from the crowd at the top of this year’s deep offensive tackle class. Don’t be shocked if he’s the first one off the board, and a top-five pick.
5. Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama
After a season-ending hip injury, Tagovailoa is obviously the biggest wild-card in this year’s draft. If he makes a full recovery, Tua still has a fantastic skill set and all the tools to be a franchise quarterback. It’s a big if, but if he’s healthy, he’s still worthy of top-five consideration for a QB-needy team like Miami.
Jalen Hurts has had an exceptional college football career. After three years with Alabama, the dynamic quarterback transferred to Oklahoma for his final year of eligibility and led another team to the College Football Playoff.
But Hurts’ and the Sooners’ hopes for a national championship were quickly destroyed in the playoff semifinal game at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl against LSU, which had a historically dominant first half on its way to a 63-28 win.
Although he had moments of brilliance, it was far from the Oklahoma quarterback’s best game. He threw 15-for-31 for 217 yards and one interception and ran for 43 yards and two touchdowns. He entered the game with a 71.8 completion percentage and was the Sooners’ leading rusher all season.
After the game, Hurts was clearly devastated about how his college career had just ended.
And when he was asked about it and his brief time with Oklahoma during his postgame press conference, he explained just how painful the experience was in this heartbreaking moment.
“It’s hard to just sit here and reflect on four years, a whole year with my brothers this year, all of that right now. It hurts me. You talk about how much it means to you and the team — it’s supposed to hurt. This is not a good feeling. This is a feeling I’ve never felt before. It hurts me in my heart, you know. When I decided to come to this school, I told Coach [Lincoln] Riley, I’m going to go win you a national championship, and I failed to do that.
“And moving forward, I definitely hope — I’ve already told them — I hope that you guys learn from this. I hope everybody learns from this. And it hurts me the most because usually, when you come up short in something, you can come back and you can fix it. I can’t come back and fix it. I’ll never play college football again.”
Before going to Oklahoma, Hurts played for Alabama for three seasons and led the Crimson Tide to two College Football Playoff appearances. In the first one, they lost in the title game to Clemson but won the 2017-18 national championship — after Hurts was benched at halftime against Georgia in favor of then-freshman Tua Tagovailoa.
And then last season, he rode the bench for most of the year behind Tagovailoa, and when the starter was injured against the Bulldogs in the 2018 SEC championship game, Hurts took over and became the hero the team needed, leading the Crimson Tide to victory.
After Oklahoma’s loss in the Peach Bowl, LSU players congratulated Hurts on the end of his college career.
