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Alabama fans enjoyed three seasons of watching Tua Tagovailoa. Many of the Crimson Tide faithful are also closely following his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins. Had things worked out differently, they could have been watching another Tagovailoa on Saturdays as well.
Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Tua, signed with Alabama as part of the 2019 recruiting class. In his freshman season, he appeared in 5 games for the Crimson Tide, throwing just 12 passes, completing 9 for 100 yards and a touchdown.
After his season in Tuscaloosa, Taulia decided to transfer to Maryland. He discussed that decision with Maria Taylor during a Saturday appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay.
“At Bama, Tua left so I felt like it was time for me to do my own thing and make my name somewhere else,” Tagovailoa said. “My biggest thing for my family was if I’m going to go somewhere, my parents are going to send me off to someone they trust and it was Coach [Mike] Locksley. Coach always tells me, don’t be anyone else but yourself and just be a leader. I think that’s a big thing for me. Over here it feels like family.”
The younger Tagovailoa also shared that they had a unique dynamic of being competitors but Tua being the teacher.
“There’s a point where there’s a fine line between competing and learning for me because I’m the youngest and Tua’s been there and done that so I try my best to compete…but at the same time, he’s been that older brother teaching me how to think and keeping the right mindset. I actually grew up being Tua’s center, I wish I could’ve been his receiver. That’s how it started.”
Taulia was granted immediate eligibility at Maryland and is the Terrapins’ starting quarterback. He is 75-of-122 passing for 1,011 yards, 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on the season. He had a rough outing Saturday (17-of-36, 241 yards, TD, 3 INT) in Maryland’s 27-11 loss to Indiana.
[H/T 247Sports]
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
