How time at Alabama prepared Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts for pivotal third seasons in NFL

They both set countless records at the University of Alabama. They both entered the 2020 NFL Draft with questions about their professional prospects. And entering the 2022 season, the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa and Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts face a pivotal opportunity to prove they can be legitimate franchise quarterbacks in their third year.

For a moment on Wednesday morning, though, the former college teammates were able to put aside preparation for the upcoming season and catch up.

The Dolphins hosted the Eagles for joint practices in Miami Gardens on Wednesday — their second session on Thursday was canceled after multiple Miami players caught the stomach flu — bringing Tagovailoa, Hurts and several other Alabama alumni back to the same practice fields for the first time since their days in Tuscaloosa.

“It was cool seeing my ex-Alabama teammates,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s good to see that they’re doing good for themselves and their families, being able to compete at the highest level, and it’s not like they’re backup guys. They’re starters. So that was awesome to see.”

At Alabama, coach Nick Saban’s NFL-like process prepares his players for the professional ranks better than any college program. And in a position room that also featured current New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, the competition was immense for Tagovailoa, who entered his freshman season backing up Hurts, then a sophomore.

Tagovailoa noted the worth ethic of Hurts at Alabama: “The dude had to be the first into the weight room, he had to be the first out onto the field. Like sprints, he had to be first.

“I knew when I went to Alabama, I’d have to compete and compete against a guy that was really good,” Tagovailoa said. “The year before that, [Hurts] was the SEC Player of the Year at the time and he led his team to the national championship. So I knew what I was up against. But at the same time, when you go to a place like that, the standards are high, expectations are extremely high as well, because of the success that they’ve had. And really just you’ve got to go out there and compete every day. And I would say that’s how being at a place like Alabama has helped set up success for me coming into the NFL. Nothing’s given to you. You got to earn everything.”

Tagovailoa’s rise in college football has been well documented. Inserted into the starting lineup over Hurts after halftime of the National Championship Game against Georgia, Tagovailoa threw the game-winning touchdown to DeVonta Smith, now a wide receiver with the Eagles.

Saban later named Tagovailoa the team’s starter for the 2018 season, a tough development for Hurts, who had emerged as a leader. Maryland coach Mike Locksley, who was offensive coordinator at Alabama for Tagovailoa’s first two seasons, never sensed a negative dynamic after the quarterback change. Hurts would have to come in for Tagovailoa when he injured his ankle and he led Alabama to a come-from-behind victory against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

“It was a testament to the type of preparation that they both put in as backups,” said Locksley, who now coaches Tua’s younger brother, Taulia.

One year after Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma, he and Tagovailoa entered the 2020 Draft. Tagovailoa would go to Miami with the fifth overall pick and Hurts to Philadelphia at No. 53. Hurts, a prolific runner, faced questions about his ability to be a consistent passer while draft analysts wondered how the devastating hip injury Tagovailoa sustained as a junior would impact him going forward.

Neither quarterback was immediately given the starting role as rookies and had to navigate taking over for beloved incumbents — Ryan Fitzpatrick in Miami and Carson Wentz in Philadelphia. In two seasons, Tagovailoa is 13-8 as a starter and Hurts is 9-10 with a playoff appearance last season.

“There’s definitely no doubt that the Alabama experience for both those guys prepared them for the scrutiny that comes along with playing at the highest level,” Locksley said. “And they’re in the NFL in the most scrutinized position, the quarterback position. Their quarterback competition at Alabama was as scrutinized as probably what they’ve both gone through. And the ups and downs and ebbs and flows of being a starting quarterback at Alabama is very, very similar to that of being a starting quarterback at the next level.”

However, expectations for the upcoming season are as high as they’ve ever been for the two, especially after the Dolphins and Eagles acquired top-flight receivers in the offseason, Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown, respectively.

Tagovailoa and Hurts can lean on their time at Alabama as they enter the high-stakes season and maybe even each other. The two had stayed in contact, Tagovailoa said, and last year exchanged various tips and notes on defenses they’ve faced.

“The friendship we have and being able to talk,” Hurts said, “talk about who we’re seeing in the league and just being a companion throughout the process — I want to see him win. I know he wants to see me win and it was good to come out here [Wednesday].”