2018 Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was selected by head coach Nick Saban over Jalen Hurts.
Saban made the decision despite the fact that Hurts had led Alabama to the CFP national title game the previous two seasons. Hurts lost his starting position as a junior despite throwing for 4,861 yards and 40 touchdowns and running for 1,809 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2016 and 2017.
Hurts declared on Thursday that he had “a tonne of respect” for his old mentor, who announced his resignation on Wednesday after 17 years as Alabama’s head coach.
Hurts, who is currently the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, was questioned regarding Saban’s retirement during his press conference on Thursday.
Given how involved in the game he has been, Hurts stated, “I think it’s a sad day in the game of football.” It seems unreal. For me personally, he has always been a coach from the moment I was born, and as I grew older and learned about him, I realised why I had committed to attend that university because of the man he was, the intents he had, and the way he conducted business and operated.
“He will undoubtedly be missed during the game, but I’m sure he’ll be having a good time and watching.” I’m aware he can’t get too far away from it. I have the utmost regard for Coach Saban and everything he has done to support his players.
In the 2017 national championship game, Alabama was down Georgia 13-0 when Saban substituted Tagovailoa for Hurts at halftime. Tagovailoa helped the Crimson Tide win the game in overtime, 26-23, thanks to a 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
With Tagovailoa out due to injury, Hurts returned the favour in 2018 by organising a furious comeback to defeat Georgia 35-28 in the SEC Championship Game. Hurts then transferred to Oklahoma, where he finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in his final year of college.
Hurts, an Eagles second-round pick in 2020, took over as the team’s starting quarterback with four games remaining in his rookie campaign.
