After announcing last week a decision about his future would be coming soon, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has revealed he will forego his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL draft.
“With lots of prayers, thoughts and guidance I have decided that I will enter the 2020 NFL draft,” Tagovailoa said Monday.
The 21-year-old has been rehabbing since dislocating his hip during a November 16 game against Mississippi State and having surgery shortly thereafter.
Tagovailoa ends his Alabama career with 7,444 passing years (third all-time), 87 passing touchdowns (first all-time) and the Crimson Tide single-game record for passing touchdowns (six against Ole Miss in 2019).
Thank you @Tuaamann! đ
Tua Tagovailoa has declared for the NFL Draft and will forego his senior season at Alabama. pic.twitter.com/K1miL0BK8u
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) January 6, 2020
The projected No. 1 overall draft pick prior to the college football season, Tagovailoa has fallen behind Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow out of LSUÂ on many draft boards and some pundits even have him behind Utah State QB Jordan Love. Oregon’s Justin Herbert is in the mix as well.
Despite the anticipated fall from the top of the draft, Tagovailoa is still expected to be taken in the top half of the first round.
“The best-case scenario for Tua is to go late in the first round to a team with a veteran QB already,” a source told NFL.com. “Another said the sweet spot is picks 10 to 12, with someone trading up to take him. Another said the injury history affects him, but in this QB-needy league, not enough for him to fall out of the first day.”
Now that Tagovailoa has made his decision, the Cincinnati Bengals, who hold the first pick in the draft after finishing the season at 1-15, will have to make theirs.
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