Thank you, Jalen Hurts.
For everything.
You made Alabama better. You made Oklahoma better. You made College Football better.
You lost the starting job at Alabama, became the most encouraging and supportive teammate on the sideline, and decided to stay in Tuscaloosa your junior year to become the best you could be. And during the process, you won over the hearts of every single Alabama fan. Your humility captivated the world, as did your ability to be a leader and a teammate.
And when you transferred to Oklahoma for your senior year, everyone in Tuscaloosa supported you. From your former teammates, former coaches, and fans, they all encouraged and supported you as left the SEC and joined the BIG 12.
As an Oklahoma Sooner, you continued to do what you did in Tuscaloosa: change the program for the better. You quickly won over the hearts of your coaches and teammates as you went on to win the BIG 12 Championship and play in the CFB Playoff.
But the point of this post isn’t even really what you did on the field. Sure, you went 34-4 as a starter. Sure, at Alabama, you threw for 4,861 yards passing, 1,809 yards rushing, 40 TDs, 10 INT, and 21 rushing touchdowns. And sure, at Oklahoma this season, you threw for 3,634 yards, 32 TDS, and 1 INT. But, it’s more than that.
It’s how you carried yourself the same way after games, regardless if you won or lost.
It’s how you were first to give your team credit, and last to take it.
It’s how you were never satisfied with a performance, and always hungry for more.
It’s how you always found a way to support the communities you lived in.
It’s how you made the game less about yourself and more about others.
It’s how you left the game, and the program you played for, better than you found it.
So thank you, Jalen.
Thank you for being you, and for never giving up on yourself, or your dreams.
You showed kids all over the country what it looks like to remain humble and an incredible teammate, while working hard to make their dreams come true.
I’m not sure what your future holds Jalen, but I know one thing is for sure: You are a winner, and you can hold your head up high as you continue chasing your dreams.
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 you have done, Jalen, for two different programs in two entirely different conferences.
Roll Tide and Boomer Sooner, Jalen Hurts.
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