Tua surprises HS with equipment, tells Post: "We're definitely legit (AFC) contenders."

MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa stood before the Miami Edison football team Tuesday afternoon, surprising the school and its athletes with $65,000 in equipment and uniforms.

"The hardest thing is to be out here when everyone else isn't," Tua said. "To do the hard, grind work. Do the things it takes to be great. Dream big. Work on your dream."

Tua was representing Gatorade and its Equity in Sports, which is committed to reducing the barriers to play. On Tuesday, Tua even played quarterback for a handful of out-of-pad team drills.

"Listen to the people that matter," the Dolphins quarterback told players. "Your grandparents. Your parents. Your uncles. Your aunties. Your big brother. Big sister. Do something big for your family."

After the practice, Tagovailoa spent some one-on-one time with The Palm Beach Post.

Here is some of that conversation, lightly edited for clarity:

Post: Your home run at the Xavien Howard softball game gave me a lot of social media views.

Tua: It was good. Did I know how to hit a softball? No. Did I know how to swing a bat? No. I got kind of lucky.

Post: Did you get to do anything fun this summer in terms of like a trip, going to the beach or Hawaii?

Tua: This summer, not too much. But we went to Jason's (Sanders, Dolphins kicker) wedding in California. So that was really nice.

Post: So, everyone's talking about the tattoo sleeve on your arm. Can you explain what it means? And exactly how big it is?

Tua: No one knows that I really have it. (Laughing.) It's just hearsay, off of, I guess a picture. So I guess I should speak more on it when the reveal comes.

Does Tua think Tyreek Hill can really go for 2,000?

Post: So Tyreek Hill said, 'I will break 2,000 yards.' You think he can? You think he will?

Tua: I think he can.

Post: We're looking forward to training camp, a week away. What are some personal goals that you have?

Tua: Well, try to get somewhere we've never been to as an offense. This offseason has been really good. I think with with the guys, there's been a lot of guys that have stayed back down here who haven't really taken trips or big, you know, vacation. A lot of guys have stayed back. And we've got to get together a lot this offseason.

Tua impressed by rookie De'Von Achane

Post: When we watched in the spring, some guys who kind of stood out to us were (Erik) Ezukanma, it looks like he's improved, (De'Von) Achane looks like he's got potential, (Robbie) Chosen kind of impressed.

Tua: Achane has been very impressive throughout the first OTAs that we've had. I think when you look at the practices that we've had, I mean, he's shown some pretty cool bursts of his speed. His hands. Understanding the plays. He's done a really good job with that. And then with Chosen and Erik. I mean, they've been working hard, and they've been continuing to work hard. They've been out there for all the throwing session sessions that I've had. And they continue to work. So I'm excited for them.

Post: What do you think you have to do to prove to the organization that you are the long-term quarterback answer?

Tua: I think I've got to do what I've been doing this past year, outside of injuries. Just the way I play football, play my style of football. But I think the things that have hurt me have been just the injuries. And so, you know, I've been working really hard to, you know, hopefully, elongate myself, you know, throughout to withstand seasons. And so, you know, we'll see how all that plays out. And God willing, I can make it through the entire season and we can win a playoff game, we can win a Super Bowl, all of that good stuff.

Tua: Yes, Dolphins are legit AFC contenders

Post: How legit are the Dolphins as an AFC contender? Because there are so many good quarterbacks and so many good teams in the AFC. What do you think about what you've got to work with?

Tua: I think we're definitely legit contenders. There's no doubt with the guys we have on the defensive side of the ball. With the guys we have on the offensive side of the ball. And now with this being the first time as an offense, we get to come back understanding the plays already kind of molded into the offense a little more, I think. I think it can get very, very scary, pretty dangerous.

Post: It occurred to me that some of the youngsters out there that you were throwing to were probably as young as 14. But if you could think back to your 14-year-old self, what would be one thing you would say to him?

Tua: I would probably say I was overthinking it with girls.

Post: Have you seen the Netflix show, "Quarterback"? I'm really enjoying it. It has Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins.

Tua: And Marcus (Mariota).

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Post: I sat down to have lunch with Marcus when he was at Oregon. And his coach was giving him books on how to be a better leader and how to be more vocal. And the Marcus that I saw on TV is much more mature and of course different. He's much older. It seemed like a totally different guy. I was really proud to see how far he's come. He's got his family now, in fact, to have a kid during the season. And even Kirk Cousins, you get that glimpse behind the curtain, you kind of feel like you, you understand him a little bit more. I guess my last question would be, what would be one thing that you wish lots of folks knew or understood a little bit more about you?

Tua: I would say that I am a very private person. I think people somewhat understand that. But I really, I really do like my privacy. You know, there are a lot of moments where I wish I could just be normal. Where I could just you know, do things that I would normally have done in high school or growing up, you know. It's the best when people treat you the way they treat you not knowing who you are, not because of who you are. But you know, just because that's who they are as a person. So I think I think yeah, I think just I'm just very to myself. Like I'm very, I keep everything you know, very tight-knit.

Tua speaks to Messi's arrival in Miami

Post: Did you see Messi went to Publix?

Tua: That's different, now. That's different. I would like to think that he probably would want the same thing, to be normal again. But that guy will never be normal again.

Joe Schad is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at.jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa of Miami Dolphins goes 1-on-1 with Palm Beach Post