A storyline that fans of Alabama football are annoyed with has happened again.
According to various reports, including one from Ed Daniels of ABC 26 News,, returning junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was not at the Manning Passing Academy.
Despite being selected as a camp counselor for this event, the native Hawaiian suffered a minor hamstring injury and was kept out for “precautionary reasons.”
While the injury is not serious, it does add to Tagovailoa’s growing sheet of mishaps. In his sophomore year, the former five-star was hit with hand (fracture), knee and ankle issues.
The latter two took a toll on him, especially in marquee games late in the season.
RELATED: Breaking: Tua Tagovailoa Sits Out Manning Passing Camp with Injury
He was not himself in the postseason versus Georgia (SEC Championship) and Clemson (College Football Playoff national title) as four of his six interceptions came against both schools.
It is the hope of Crimson Tide fans for Tagovailoa to shake the injury bug and be healthy for a full season, seeing how he can potentially be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and have the chance to prove different analysts wrong that question his durability.
At the same time, it is also ideal for Mac Jones, Taulia Tagovailoa and possibly even Paul Tyson to be prepared. As much as Tide fans want to see its Heisman finalist at full strength, injuries are part of football and institutions of national championship caliber always have a backup plan.
Jones, a sophomore, needs more opportunities to showcase his skillset.
With Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts ahead of him in 2018, the Floridian did not see an ample amount of reps – following his MVP outing on A-Day.
A four-star in the 2017 recruiting class, Jones led one of the top private schools in the state of Florida (The Bolles School) to the Class 4A State Championship Game as a senior in 2016.
He tallied 3,682 career passing yards with 55 touchdown passes and like Tagovailoa, Jones took part in the Elite 11 quarterback competition.
Nick Saban mentioned in spring practice on the team needing to provide Jones with a chance, and the lone way he will get better is with more field time. He showed out again in this year’s spring game, connecting with tight end Kedrick James and receiver Xavier Williams for scores.
In a perfect world, Saban would like to hold the younger Tagovailoa and Tyson for next year.
However, both must be ready at any moment. Taulia, a four-star from Thompson High School, was exceptional as a senior and while he is not the polished passer that his brother is, Tagovailoa is just as good at extending plays.
His touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle on A-Day was a prime example.
He displayed strong composure in buying time out the pocket and delivered a rope to the electric Waddle in the back of the endzone for the second-team unit.
Tyson, a four-star from Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) High School, possessed exceptional arm talent in a program that was predicated on running the ball. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder accounted for more than 6,500 passing yards with 69 scoring tosses to 13 interceptions in 24 games as a starter.
He was 19-5 as the Huskies’ signal caller and was No. 295 on the ESPN 300. Tyson is the great-grandson of legendary Tide coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, but his abilities as a distributor of the ball far outweigh the name.
Albeit a wildcard, Slade Bolden at quarterback makes sense.
He, like former standout Blake Sims, was recruited to Alabama as an “athlete” and can play on both sides of the ball. Sims helped the team at running back, wide receiver, defensive back, scout team quarterback and backup quarterback, prior to becoming the starter in 2014.
Before Tua Tagovailoa arrived, Sims held the school’s single-season passing record (3,487) and mark for total touchdowns (35). Bolden, a native of West Monroe, La., was regarded as a four-star prospect via Rivals.
He was the No. 63 athlete nationally per ESPN and played quarterback at West Monroe High School.
Bolden accounted for 1,622 passing yards, 1,460 rushing yards and 40 total touchdowns (20 each) — en route to winning the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of Louisiana as a senior in 2017.
He has worked at both defensive back and wide receiver at Alabama, while serving as scout-team quarterback in a few practices last season.
Bolden had one of the prettiest throws in the spring game: a 31-yard connection to tight end Cameron Latu for the first-team offense (Crimson).
The 5-foot-11, 197-pounder has a similar body structure to Sims and would fit offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s style of play with his athleticism and capabilities.
All hope stands on Tua Tagovailoa being fine for the fall, but nothing is wrong with Alabama surveying its options behind him.
After all, this is the place where “Legends are Made” and legends must take everything into consideration.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
