After imitating Deshaun Watson, Alabama's Jalen Hurts now trying to beat him in biggest game of his life
At this time last season, the soon-to-be SEC Offensive Player of the Year was nothing more than an early enrollee scout-team quarterback.
Jalen Hurts, a four-star signee and son of a coach from Channelview (Texas) High School, graduated in December and arrived at Alabama ahead of this past year’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Clemson.
Despite the fact that Hurts wasn’t even eligible to suit up in Glendale, he played a critical role in the Crimson Tide winning their fourth national title under coach Nick Saban. Since the QBs he had on his roster at the time were all pocket passers — including starter Jake Coker — Saban had Hurts do his best Deshaun Watson impersonation.
Still just 17 years old at the time, Hurts was charged with prepping the ‘Bama defense for a dual-threat Heisman Trophy finalist.
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“That was wild,” safety Ronnie Harrison told Saturday Down South. “I came out to practice one day and was like, ‘Who’s this?’ And it was Jalen as a freshman. He was on point with Deshaun. He was just like Deshaun.”
An argument can be made that Hurts didn’t do a very good job with his impression, considering the fact that Watson threw for 405 yards, ran for 73 more and accounted for 4 touchdowns through air. The Tide did win, though, 45-40.
However, at the very least, Hurts got the attention of his new teammates right away. Fast forward to the following September, when he took over for starter Blake Barnett in the early stages of the season opener, there was a noticeable change in the energy on the sideline. The Alabama players could sense a star about to be born.
After one of the best campaigns ever assembled by a freshman passer in the SEC, Hurts (below) is no longer imitating Watson. He’s facing him.
Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s crazy how he’s our starter now, and just a year ago he’s on scout team being Deshaun Watson for us,” cornerback Anthony Averett said. “That’s great. It’s major. I’m just proud of him now because now he’s the starter for us. He’s starting as an 18-, 19-year-old. It’s big shoes to fill, but he’s been doing a good job.”
While he’s a long way from being as dominant as Watson, Hurts features a similar skill set at the game’s most important position. He completes 64.9 percent of his throws and sports a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 22-to-9.
He’s still improving as a passer, plus the numbers suggest he’s actually regressed a bit throwing the ball his past few outings, but his ability to run has taken this Crimson Tide offense to the next level. What was once a traditional ground-and-pound system is now essentially a spread-option, no-huddle scheme.
‘Bama did something similar in 2014 with Blake Sims at the controls, but Hurts has a bigger arm and been more effective as a runner.
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“When Jalen was scout-team quarterback, I felt like we were going against Blake Sims all over again,” defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson said. “He’s just one of those quarterbacks. It’s hard to contain them because they’re so fast and so quick and can change directions so quick. They can juke out almost any defensive lineman. It was tough going against Jalen because, in two-minute situations, he used to have the whole defense gassed because he was running the ball over and over and over again.”
If you listen to Hurts tell the story, it’s not like Saban locked him in a film room for hours so he could study Watson’s every move. No, he just arrived on campus, passed his physical and went out to the practice field.
Instead of being a Watson copycat, he simply did his thing after getting some basic instruction from the coaching staff. Run this play. Throw the ball to that guy. If all else fails, run. It was no more complicated than that. But with a No. 4 jersey on his back, just like the one Watson wears, that’s what the Tide defense needed to see.
Nowadays, Hurts (below) dons a black non-contact jersey. However, at this time last year, he was fair game for the premier D in America.
Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
“We broke his collarbone in Arizona,” linebacker Tim Williams said. “We tackled him. He was running the ball, and we just tackled him, put him on the ground and knocked his shoulder out of place. When Jalen was here last year, we used to tackle Jalen. We used to mess over Jalen, man.”
Williams and Co. didn’t feel the least bit bad about it, either. They might have had they known what was in store for Hurts in 2016.
“It happens,” defensive end Jonathan Allen said. “It’s football.”
Hurts has insisted that tonight’s CFP rematch isn’t Watson vs. Hurts. It’s Clemson vs. Alabama. The Tigers are talented, but their depth chart doesn’t stack up with the embarrassment of riches Saban has put together.
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Nevertheless, if Clemson has one distinct advantage over the Crimson Tide when toe finally meets leather at Raymond James Stadium, it’s at quarterback. He’s on the right path, but Hurts can only hope to be the kind of weapon down the road that Watson is already. He’s dynamic and dangerous in every way.
Still, even if it was Saban’s first assignment for him, Hurts has never tried to be exactly like Watson. Not last January. Not this season.
“I just came in and did what I thought I could do,” Hurts said. “Play my game.”
This week, he wasn’t asked to be Deshaun Watson. He was asked to be Jalen Hurts. The irony is that’s who he’s been all along.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
