Vote Now! Who is the bigger sports star in Florida: Trevor Lawrence or Tua Tagovailoa
I recently wrote a column ranking the biggest active sports stars in the state of Florida.
To recap, they were as such, from 5-1: Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins), Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins), Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami).
Upon discussing this column on “The *State* of Florida Sports Podcast” with my friend and colleague Joe Schad, he mocked me as wearing “Jaguars Underoos,” countering that Tua is clearly the next biggest star in the state after Messi.
For full disclosure, I’m the Sports Editor over the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville while Joe is a Dolphins reporter and columnist for the Palm Beach Post.
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As journalists, we don’t root for teams we cover.
However, it’s much better for us, as journalists, if the teams we cover are successful. Watching a bad football team is dreadful.
With that, Joe and I are laying out arguments this week as to why Tua or Trevor are the second-biggest active sports star in the state.
I’ll give Joe the honor of making his case first, and I will follow. Then, a poll is below for you to vote.
So, who is the bigger star? Trevor Lawrence or Tua Tagovailoa?
Joe Schad on why Tua is the bigger star
Tua Tagovailoa’s popularity spans from Hawaii to Alabama to Florida and, frankly, around the world.
Tua’s No. 1 jersey can be spotted at the Roman Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower and The Great Wall of China.
The appetite for Tua content is reminiscent of Michael Jackson, Prince and Taylor Swift.
It has little to do with the fact that Tua led the NFL in passer rating in 2022.
It has to do with what Tua did as a freshman at Alabama, the game-winning touchdown pass that will go down as one of the most memorable plays in college football history.
It has to do with the fact that Tua is one of the most polarizing players in NFL history.
Many perceive Tua as underrated, slighted, deadly accurate, magnetic and capable of lifting a franchise to a Super Bowl victory.
Many others perceive Tua as undersized, injury-prone, weak-armed, overrated and over-discussed.
One thing is for sure: almost everybody — and we mean literally almost everybody — knows who Tua is and is fascinated to see how his career plays out.
Tim Walters on why Trevor is the bigger star
From the time he trotted out on the field for Clemson as a freshmen in 2018, ultimately leading his team to a national title, Trevor has been in the national conscience.
His tall, slender build and long blond hair are recognizable anywhere, immediately drawing comparisons to “Sunshine,” the QB from the classic movie, “Remember the Titans,” starring Denzel Washington.
He was taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in 2021. Tua was taken No. 5 in 2020.
He suffered through the Urban Meyer disaster his rookie year to lead the Jaguars into the playoffs during his second year, something only done one other time in the previous 14 seasons for the franchise.
He’s the first and only player to start all 34 regular-season games during his first two seasons in the NFL.
In fact, both Trevor and Tua have started 34 games — but Trevor has done it in two seasons to Tua’s three.
Trevor’s endorsements include titans of industry like Gatorade and adidas.
He’s married to his high school sweetheart.
If you want stability. If you want durability. If you want one of the faces of the NFL for the next decade, you want Trevor Lawrence.
Now it's time to vote
Make your choice below:
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Is Trevor Lawrence or Tua Tagovailoa a bigger sports star? Vote now
