He was cleared to start working out for the NFL Draft on March 9 and on Thursday, video surfaced on Twitter with Tua Tagovailoa throwing passes on a field.
The video came from NPA Sports as the former Alabama starting quarterback and his brother, Taulia Tagovailoa, were seen dropping dimes to receivers. For the first time since his hip surgery, Tagovailoa was able to throw standing up.
No balls touch the ground w @Tuaamann & @tauliaa12 tossing dimes to NPA guys @NatlPlaymkrsAca @caleb_bailey28 @adrianhuey_ @tre_hartwell @CoachJoc4 @CSmithScout @JohnDBrice1 pic.twitter.com/fQ7LallQSM
— NPA Sports (@BuckFitz) March 20, 2020
With all the positive information on his right hip, the native Hawaiian projects as a top-five to top-10 selection for the draft next month. Once a five-star prospect, Tagovailoa rescued the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2017 as a freshman.
He transformed the Tide’s offense in the following year, guiding it to an average of 45.6 points per game. Alabama scored at least 40 points in 10 of 15 matchups in 2018.
Tagovailoa became the fourth 3,000-yard passer (3,966) of the Nick Saban era. His output for yards, scoring passes (43) and total touchdowns (48) set a single-season school record.
He won a bunch of individual awards for his performance – including Maxwell, Walter Camp, first-team All-SEC and consensus All-American honors. Tagovailoa finished runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, won Sporting News Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year for the Southeastern Conference.
In reflecting back on the 2018 CFP National Championship, he was voted Most Valuable Player of the game. Tagovailoa stands first all-time in Alabama football history for touchdown passes (87) and total scores (96), while having 7,442 passing yards.
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He now anticipates hearing his name called on draft night.
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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.
