By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
According to multiple reports, the Alabama Crimson Tide are expected to redshirt quarterback Jalen Hurts this season. That could potentially help resolve the Crimson Tide’s two-quarterback system.
Of course, Tua Tagovailoa, the sophomore starter, will have to stay healthy throughout the season. He is considered the Heisman Trophy favorite by many pundits around the country.
Tagovailoa, who started the season opener last Saturday night against the Louisville Cardinals, took the reigns of the offense from junior Hurts in the National Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the second half after Hurts was stagnate in the first half.
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The redshirt, the reports say, is what Hurts’ family wants. His father said in the offseason that Hurts would “be the biggest free agent in college football history” if he lost the starting job.
The Athletic’s Aaron Suttles, who previously wrote for the Tuscaloosa News, is reporting there is an agreement in place between Hurts and the program. That would allow Hurts to sit out the entire 2018 season and come back next season as a redshirt junior, while Tagovailoa will be a true junior.
The NCAA put in a new rule this season that allows players to play in four games this season while maintaining their redshirt eligibility. In order for this to happen, he would be allowed to play in three more games to keep his redshirt eligibility.
In 2019, with his redshirt, if it happens, Hurts would have two years left of eligibility. Tagovailoa would also have two years of eligibility left; however, due to his success, he may decide to declare for the NFL Draft following the 2019 season.
Hurts, though, is expected to graduate from Alabama in December. That would make him eligible to transfer to any FBS school, including an SEC school, including to rival, Auburn Tigers, next season without sitting out a season.
With Hurts taking the redshirt option, if everything happens, according to plan, Mac Jones, the three-star 2017 signee, will back up Tagovailoa today as the Crimson Tide are expected to role over the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Against the Cardinals, he went 5 of 9 for 70 yards in backup action.
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During the 2017 season, he went 154 of 255 for 2,081 yards in 14 games. He had 17 touchdowns and one interception.
In the National Championship on January 8th, 2018, Hurts went three of 8 for 21 yards. Tagovailoa came in during the second half and went 14 of 24 for 166 yards.
He also had three touchdowns and an interception.
Hurts had just two games last season in the regular season, where he threw for more than 200 yards. That came on September 16th, 2017, against the Colorado Rams when he had 248 yards.
Then, on November 11th, 2017, he had 242 yards against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In addition, he had three games, where he threw for less than 100 yards.
He had just 96 passing yards against the Florida State Seminoles in the season opener. He also had 78 passing yards against the Vanderbilt Commodores on September 23rd.
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