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Tua Tagovailoa says Jalen Hurts ‘definitely deserved’ storybook moment in SEC Championship Game
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Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts went through a role reversal in the SEC Championship Game, with the backup Hurts taking over for Tagovailoa and leading a spectacular comeback against Georgia much like what occurred in last year’s national championship game.
That gives Tagovailoa a special perspective on what Hurts accomplished after taking a backseat following two years of outstanding performances as Alabama’s starting quarterback. During a scheduled media availability Wednesday ahead of the Orange Bowl, Tagovailoa was asked about his reaction to Hurts’ heroic play earlier this month.
“Yeah, I was very happy for him, for him and his family to have stuck it out like that,” he said. “I understand that it’s not easy to do something like that. I mean, I wouldn’t be able to fathom what they went through as a family throughout this entire process, but I’m grateful for how he was raised, how he’s been raised, and I’ve said this before, it’s definitely a testament to his family and his upbringing.
“But everything that he’s gone through and that he witnessed in the SEC Championship game, he definitely deserved.”
With transfers becoming more popular than ever, it was rare to see a player of Hurts’ caliber remain with a program after losing a starting job he had performed so well in. But it’s clear Tagovailoa respects what his fellow quarterback went through and how much sweeter that made his heroics after Tagovailoa left the SEC title game with an injury.
Tagovailoa is aiming to play against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl following ankle surgery earlier this month, but Hurts may get another shot to add to his storybook finish to the season.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
