His road was not easy, but Jalen Hurts has positioned himself for the next level.
He had a memorable career at the University of Alabama, where he totaled 5,625 passing yards, 1,976 rushing yards and 71 total touchdowns in three years. Once a four-star from Channelview, Texas, Hurts helped the Crimson Tide win a Southeastern Conference Championship in 2016 and advance to the College Football Playoff.
He won multiple individual awards, including SEC Offensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and first-team All-SEC for his efforts.
After being on a national championship team in 2017, he took talents to the Big 12 and guided Oklahoma to a conference title and the CFP.
In his lone year with the Sooners (2019), he threw for 3,851 yards, rushed for 1,298 yards and totaled 53 scores.
Sep 1, 2019; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws during the first half against the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Hurts won Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, first-team All-Big 12 and was a runner-up to the Heisman Trophy. Despite his journey, he kept the faith and he joined Maria Taylor of ESPN via Instagram live on Tuesday for an interview.
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Like everyone else, Hurts is finding ways to adjust during this global crisis.
When he’s not working out in his childhood gym, he on a high school football field putting in work to master his craft as a passer. According to Hurts, he always held a lot of value in football.
“I was always the little kid in summer workouts hanging out with my brother,” Hurts said to Taylor. “I was watching him and I had support in the community. My father treated everyone the same. He held us all to a standard and handle your business on the field and the classroom.”
Averion Hurts Sr., Hurts’ father, was his head coach in high school.
He developed his son into being an exceptional weight lifter and athlete. While Hurts totaled 3,775 yards with 51 touchdowns as a senior (2015) at Channelview, his brother – Averion Hurts Jr. — was a starting quarterback at Kilgore Junior College and Texas Southern University.
Hurts said the reason he chose Alabama was he felt that he and Nick Saban were similar.
“I just loved Coach Saban’s approach to football,” Hurts said. “It was great being a part of so many different minds having so many people helped me.”
The Tide was his training ground, but Oklahoma was where Hurts blossomed.
He posted four 300-yard passing performances and led the Sooners to huge wins over Texas, Baylor (twice) and a competitive Iowa State program.
“Oklahoma gave me the opportunity to showcase what I had learned,” he said. “Going to Oklahoma… being at one of best schools, best coaches, best cultures, they win… the goal was to be a part of a championship team… Came up short, but it was still a successful season.”
As he thinks about the moment he will enter into next week, Hurts told Taylor he is continuing to process information as a player, seeking more knowledge and surrounding himself with positive people. When it comes to NFL players he looks up to, Steve McNair was first to his mind.
Like Hurts, McNair was a country boy.
He grew up in Mississippi and though he wanted to attend the University of Florida, it wanted him at running back. McNair, like Hurts, only thought of himself as a quarterback and he chose to play at Alcorn State University. As a member of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC), McNair thrived with 15,010 career passing yards – including 5,377 yards in the 1994 season.
He went on to win All-American honors and helped the program capture a share of the conference title with an 8-3-1 record.
Prior to his tragic death on July 4, 2009, McNair played 13 seasons in the league (1995-07) with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.
He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, the NFL’s Most Valuable Player (2003) and the league’s passer rating leader (2003).
McNair led the Titans to the Super Bowl in the 1999 season and came just short of winning a title. His No. 9 jersey was retired by the Titans and he was inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor.
“I always had a thing with Steve McNair,” Hurts said. “He was a dog. Could run and make all plays. He had moments where he would make something out of nothing.”
He really likes Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson too, but McNair did something for Hurts.
Along with having interviews with coaches via Zoom, Hurts has been doing everything he can to stay in the moment and trust the process. He is ready for the coronavirus to be over, especially when it comes to spending more time with his family, but he’s focused on making a team better.
Tide and Sooner fans look forward to seeing where he goes in the draft.
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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.
