By Tony Tsoukalas
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The secret to Tua Tagovailoa’s escapability is safe. The Alabama quarterback can’t explain what allows him to acrobatically slip and spin away from defenders in the pocket. However, he did just fine maneuvering through questions Tuesday during his first media availability this season.
“I don’t know. Sometimes I drop back, and sometimes I just practice backflipping and throwing,” Tagovailoa said, drawing a big laugh from the crowd of reporters surrounding him. “I’m kidding. I really couldn’t tell you. I don’t know.”
Tuesday was the first time Tagovailoa spoke to reporters since the start of fall camp. So much has changed since then. Not only has Tagovailoa overtaken Jalen Hurts as Alabama’s starter, he’s become the face of the No. 1 team in the nation.
Five games into the season, the Hawaiian native’s fame has reached all-time highs, complete with plastic leis, which are now sold outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Pineapple hasn’t replaced pulled pork in Tuscaloosa, but it’s now become a staple inside tailgate tents on the The Quad during game days.
“I think it's cool,” Tagovailoa. “There's nothing wrong with it.”
Of course, Tagovailoa has made his biggest mark on the field where he’s led an Alabama offense that leads the nation averaging 54.2 points per game. The sophomore quarterback has completed 75 percent of his passes for 1,161 yards and 14 touchdowns with no interceptions. He also leads the nation with a 238.32 quarterback rating and is performing at a consistency that head coach Nick Saban admitted “probably exceeded” his early expectations.
“He has played extremely well in every game,” Saban said Monday. “He's right on target most of the time, not only in where he delivers the ball but who he delivers it to and why he should do it that way. I think our coaches have done a really good job of helping him be able to understand exactly what the expectation is. He would be the first to tell you that all the players on offense — the protection has been pretty good for him and the receivers have done a good job of getting open.”
Living up to his coach's words, Tagovailoa was quick to dole out praise to his fellow teammates Tuesday, beginning with his three starting relievers. Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith all have at least 15 receptions this season and have combined for 982 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air.
“They’re the ones who make me look good,” Tagovailoa said. “I mean I could throw a 2-yard slant, and they’ll turn that 2-yard slant into like a 20-yard game. It’s their run after the catch that surprises me. As kind of small as they are, they’re fighters — all three of them.”
However, the teammate who has perhaps impressed Tagovailoa the most is the one he replaced. Asked several times about his relationship with Hurts, Tagovailoa stated his respect for the junior quarterback while saying the two have grown closer this season.
Many wondered if Alabama’s quarterback situation would turn toxic after Tagovailoa was named starter. After all, Hurts was a former SEC Offensive Player of the Year with a 26-2 record as a starter. However, instead of sulking in the shadows, Hurts has not only elected to remain with the team but support Tagovailoa throughout the process.
“It's a testament to his character,” Tagovailoa said. “It's a testament to his morals, how he was raised within his family. And just him being here with our team, everybody respects him so much. He's a leader. He leads both ways. He leads vocally and he leads doing things.”
Tuesday, Tagovailoa described that support by giving an anecdote of one of Alabama’s first practice following its season-opener against Louisville.
“Jalen told me to go in front of him because now I'm the starting quarterback and I'm going to be the leader and what-not,” Tagovailoa said. “I told him no. I told him that he still belongs in that role just because of everything that he's done. I think that was a very mature move of him trying to do that. I would have never thought of doing that. Just the maturity that he has trying to do that, I thought that was something very special.”
While Hurts still leads the line during practice, it’s Tagovailoa who now finds himself in the spotlight. It’s spot he’s quickly mastering one laugh and humble smile at a time.
“I’d say most definitely with my faith, there’s no room for me with it, you know,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s always about other people, it’s always about loving on other people and most definitely giving praise where praise is due.”
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