A terrible situation for one of the nation’s top prospects continues to bring positive developments.
After suffering a scary, season-ending hip injury in Saturday’s loss to Mississippi State, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appears to be in a best-case scenario.
The Crimson Tide’s star player underwent successful hip surgery in Houston on Monday morning, and an official statement from the school says that Tagovailoa’s prognosis is “excellent,” and that a full recovery is expected (via Fox 6’s Kelvin Reynolds):
University of Alabama Athletic Department issues statement Tua Tagovailoa surgery pic.twitter.com/x1UvDmJYtQ
— Kelvin Reynolds (@Fox6Kelvin) November 18, 2019
Widely regarded as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Tagovailoa will miss the rest of the 2019 season. Though he still has eligibility remaining and could return to Alabama for the 2020 season, most expect him to declare for the 2020 draft.
Tagovailoa was tackled awkwardly by multiple MSU defenders in the second quarter Saturday, with many questioning why Tagovailoa was still in the game, considering the Tide were up 35-7 at the time. He was just weeks removed from surgery to repair an ankle injury.
Tagovailoa’s draft stock and long-term prognosis appear to be in good shape following this news, and here’s hoping he indeed makes a complete recovery and can return to full strength both on and off the field.
[vertical-gallery id=609960]