Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa put his name on the map back in 2017 when he led the Crimson Tide to an eye-popping comeback victory in the National Championship Game after he replaced Jalen Hurts in the second half of the contest.
It was then when we knew that we had a star in the making.
Tagovailoa went on to win the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards the following year, along with SEC Offensive Player of the Year and second-team Associated Press All-American honors.
In 2019, Tagovailoa’s surge on the field continued, as he totaled 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions in nine games. He completed 71.4 percent of his passes and led the nation with a 206.9 efficiency rating.
With momentum riding his way during his junior campaign, the year that he was finally draft eligible and bound to make a quarterback-needy team happy, Tua suffered a significant injury in early November.
Tua dislocated his hip in what was his final drive against Mississippi State. Many questioned Tagovailoa’s participation from the start, as he was already banged up from a high-ankle sprain sustained a few weeks prior to the contest.
Many wondered if he would go pro in hopes that his hip would progress enough to convince an NFL team he is still worthy of a top pick? Or return to school and risk further injury, but prove he could stay healthy?
The Hawaii native and devout Christian relied on his faith to make the difficult decision, foregoing his senior season and entering the 2020 NFL Draft.
As Tua made his announcement that he would be making the leap, NFL teams knew the talent was there in the signal-caller, but the durability concerns loomed large.
With the Chargers needing a future franchise quarterback and being in that range to grab him, is it worth taking the risk to draft a player who suffered five injuries throughout his collegiate career?
His tape says yes, without a doubt as it shows an elite passer with some rare traits.
Coach Anthony Lynn wants someone who can take care of the ball, and Tua has spot-on accuracy to get the ball to his receivers no matter the area of the field.
He has done a great job at limiting turnovers in the air. Tua only threw 11 interceptions in his two seasons as the starter.
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His accuracy in the short areas of the field is exceptional, allowing his receivers to make plays after the catch.
Tua is efficient in the RPO game, showing sound footwork in his drop back and quickly pulling the ball out and getting it out even when under duress.
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Tua has explosive hips and lower body twitch to get throws off quickly.
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Eye-discipline, which is important at the next level, is one of his biggest strengths. He shows the ability to make full field reads, manipulating coverages with his eyes and quickly flipping his hips and shoulders towards his target.
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Tua has some of the best pocket awareness to get outside of it when pressured, where he will make some dazzling throws on the move or pick up some yards with his legs.
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There aren’t many negatives when it comes to Tua outside of the durability concerns. Tagovailoa has plenty of juice on his throws, but he doesn’t have the biggest arm in this class. Still, lack of arm strength isn’t something to be worried about with his game.
Another concern that’s brought up is that his game was elevated by a supporting cast made up of an abundance of future professional wideouts.
Three months removed from his injury, there are positive reviews about Tagovailoa’s recovery. He has received overwhelmingly positive reports on his hip from teams who examined him the past two days in Indianapolis at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.
The MRIs were as clean as could have been reasonably expected, according to the report, and the fracture is healed. The blood flow and range of motion both checked out as well.
Tagovailoa isn’t working out with the other quarterbacks on Thursday, but he could be cleared for a return at a checkup with his doctor on March 9. He hopes to hold his own Pro Day on April 9, which is two weeks before the draft in Las Vegas.
If the medicals check out, general manager Tom Telesco might have to work the phones to make it happen when factoring in who’s right in front of them in the draft.
The Dolphins, who are another a quarterback-needy team, should have their eyes on Tua. Miami is slated to pick No. 5 overall, which means that Los Angeles would have to jump them if they see Tagovailoa as their guy.
Fans are concerned with his health and feel like he’s not worth the pick. But like any quarterback taken early on in the draft, there is always an extreme risk if you expect them to be the centerpiece of your offense for years to come. But taking the chance could pay huge dividends.
Tagovailoa could benefit from being on a team like Los Angeles because he wouldn’t have to start Year 1 since Tyrod Taylor will likely be the starter in 2020, giving Tua enough time to sit and rehab back to full health for the 2021 season where he could then take the reins.
Tua would also be a great fit for the Bolts as they start a new journey in SoFi Stadium. With the desire to bring fans to the stadium, he would do just that since he was one of the most polarizing players in college football for the past few years.
The bottom line is Tagovailoa is as elite a quarterback prospect as they come. The former Alabama signal-caller had a magnificent collegiate career in Tuscaloosa, and he brings great leadership ability and a winning track record, who will thrive if he stays healthy at the next level.