He probably did not know he would lead his team to the Super Bowl by his third year as a quarterback, but Jalen Hurts did know his value in the 2020 NFL Draft process.
Before he took a massive jump as a complete player, the former Alabama signal-caller sat down with the Philadelphia Eagles in an unreleased Combine video. He is about to become a wealthy quarterback, but at that time he wanted to sell Philadelphia on why he is the guy they need as a leader. Hurts discussed many things in the video, but the most interesting conversation was his relationship with Crimson Tide head coach, Nick Saban. The native Texan played three years for Alabama football.
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As a coach’s son, Hurts said he went to Alabama because he felt he and Coach Saban were ‘compatible.’
A difference maker@JalenHurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/BLv7c9IbdF
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 3, 2023
“We saw things the same way,” Hurts said about Saban.
“I was very interested and bought into the process he always talked about, the approach he took, the business approach, and the competitive nature he had. I was all into Alabama. I only took one visit and that was to Alabama. I go in there my freshman year, and I earned so much respect from my peers because I enrolled early at 17. Being around guys like Reuben [Foster], Eddie Jackson, and Jonathan Allen … All those guys, I earned some keep from them. We played my freshman year, went to the national championship, and ended up coming up short. We get back, and the stuff does not go as planned but for me, we are back. The biggest thing for me was getting back and winning. So, we got back and we won.”
People did not understand why Hurts chose to stay with the Tide despite losing the starting job to Tua Tagovailoa.
He said his teammates and earning his degree were very important to him.
“I wanted to graduate in three years, and that was something I was able to accomplish,” he said.
He transferred to Oklahoma in 2019, wanting to win Lincoln Riley a national championship. Hurts came up short, but the lessons he took from Saban have helped him mature into a dynamic quarterback. His intentions to share Saban’s mindset, toughness, attention to detail, and hunger pushed him to a career year in his third season with the Eagles.
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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.
