Tua Tagovailoa

Draft Notes: Tua, Okwuegbunam, Reagor

December 3rd, 2019 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

As Tua Tagovailoa continues to rehab from a hip injury, the quarterback is uncertain whether he’ll enter the NFL Draft or stay at Alabama for another season. In a conversation with Cecil Hurt of TideSports.com (and passed along by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com on Twitter), Tagovailoa said he’ll continue to discuss his future with his parents in anticipation of the January 20th deadline to declare for the draft.

“There is a risk and a reward if I stay and a risk and a reward if I go,” Tagovailoa said. “The risk if I stay is obviously ‘Do I get hurt again?’ The reward is that I could come back and have another good year like my sophomore year and elevate myself back to the very top of the (NFL) draft.

“If I leave, I think the risk is a little higher. That risk would be how far do I drop in the draft. To me, it’s 50-50 between going in the first round and possibly going in the second round. If I go somewhere from first (overall) to around 24th, the money will be set. But let’s say — and I am just picking a number — that I go to the 31st pick. That would be about 9 million dollars. That’s a lot of money, an amount of money I’ve never had before, but it’s not high first-round money and you can never make that money up. They say you can (make it up) on your next contract but money lost is money lost to me.

“Those are the deciding factors. If my parents tell me that they think I should leave, that is obviously going to be a factor. But so far, they’ve told me that it’s my decision.”

The quarterback doesn’t have a timetable for his return from injury. Even with the ailment, we recently heard that Tagovailoa would still be a first-round pick in the 2020 draft.

Let’s check out some more draft notes:

TCU wideout Jalen Reagor announced on Twitter that he’s entering the 2020 draft. Following a 1,000-yard campaign in 2018, Reagor finished 2019 with 43 catches for 611 yards and five touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound receiver is listed as the sixth-best player at his position by CBS Sports.
Maryland RB Anthony McFarland Jr. has declared for the 2020 draft. The former redshirt sophomore still had two years of eligibility. McFarland finished his season having compiled 614 rushing yards and eight scores on 114 carries. He added another 17 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown.
Missouri will be losing a trio of contributors, as defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, and offensive lineman Trystan Colon-Castillo all declared for the 2020 draft. Okwuegbunam is easily Missouri’s top-rated prospect, with the tight end ranking third at his position, per CBS Sports.
Oregon State receiver Isaiah Hodgins will enter the NFL Draft, the player announced on social media (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). The son of former NFL player James Hodgins, the Beavers wideout finished this past season with 86 receptions for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns. Considering the receiver depth in the upcoming draft, Hodgins will be hard pressed to be an early-round pick.
Colorado wideout Laviska Shenault Jr. is entering the draft, the team announced on Twitter. “Laviska Shenault represented our relentless culture and was one of the most dynamic, dominant and versatile players that I have ever coached,” said head coach Mel Tucker. Shenault had 1,775 yards and 10 touchdowns between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Draft Rumors: Tua, Burrow, Fromm, Iowa

November 23rd, 2019 at 4:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tua Tagovailoa is not expected to return to Alabama to rebuild his stock, but said stock has taken a hit thanks to the severe hip injury he suffered last weekend. The junior Crimson Tide star can be downgraded to the No. 3 quarterback in next year’s class, per ESPN.com’s Todd McShay, who has LSU’s Joe Burrow and Oregon’s Justin Herbert ranked ahead of Tagovailoa.

“If he could’ve finished healthy, I think he would’ve been the first to go, so I do think it affects things, because there’s not a safe one now,” an AFC college scouting director told SI.com’s Albert Breer. “He was the safe one—he’s gonna be smart, accurate; he’s won at a high level, been on the big stage. Now, there’s not a safe one.”

Both Sam Bradford and Carson Wentz were top-two overall selections despite significant injuries occurring in their final college seasons, but the nature of Tagovailoa’s setback likely stands to ding his stock a bit more.

Here is the latest surrounding the next crop of draft-eligible prospects:

While Tagovailoa and Herbert were viewed as the frontrunners to be the first quarterback taken in 2020, Burrow has now ascended to the favorite to land in that position, Breer hears. The second-year LSU starter is a Heisman Trophy candidate, having throw 38 touchdown passes as a senior. Though the former Ohio State backup was not previously on the first-round radar after an unremarkable junior season, his production has swayed NFL execs this year.
McShay rated Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm as a second-tier quarterback prospect, and Breer adds some scouts expect the third-year Bulldogs starter to return for his senior season. Fromm plays in a run-first system, and scouts view him as more of an intangibles-geared prospect than one that will dazzle evaluators with physical ability, per Breer.
Herbert, however, does possess those athletic traits, and Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller would be surprised if the Ducks senior falls out of the top five next year. The Dolphins were high on Herbert last year, and NFL GMs were trekking to some of his junior-season games. Tagovailoa’s injury stands to benefit the 6-foot-6 Herbert, Miller adds, as the former was previously on track to be taken ahead of the Pac-12 standout.
Good news for Iowa fans. First-round tackle and defensive end prospects Tristan Wirfs and defensive end A.J. Epenesa are as of now expected to return to school for their senior seasons, Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com notes. Wirfs is viewed as one of the top tackles in the nation, with the 6-6, 280-pound Epenesa having totaled 22.5 sacks in his Hawkeyes tenure.

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa Turning Pro?

November 22nd, 2019 at 11:07am CST by Marc Delucchi

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is telling people he is very likely to turn pro, according to Tony Pauline of the NFL Draft Network. While just a couple weeks ago this news would have been considered obvious, the past week raised significant questions about his future.

The Hawaii-born quarterback sustained a serious hip injury in the Crimson Tide’s victory over Mississippi State that some compared to Bo Jackson‘s career-ending hip injury. While the news since has revealed the injury was not quite as severe as Jackson’s it was still quickly determined that he would miss the remained of the collegiate season.

A consensus favorite to be the top draft choice in the 2020 NFL draft entering the season, Tagovailoa’s status had lost some luster to players like Ohio State’s Chase Young and LSU’s Joe Burrow. Still, Tagovailoa remained a lock to go in the first few picks in the draft.

After the injury news broke their became legitimate questions as to how he would approach the process. While he remains an elite prospect if healthy, that if though is an even larger concern now. If he remains unable to show teams his pre-injury form prior to the draft, it remains difficult to decipher if teams would still be willing to risk a top selection on him.

Surrounding Tagovailoa is a draft class that includes Burrows, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, Georgia’s Jake Fromm, and Washington’s Jacob Eason who have all gotten first round buzz of their own. Furthermore, this offseasons free-agent class is set to have an abnormally strong crop of quarterbacks as well, which could limit the teams looking at the top of the draft.

Depending on Tagovailoa’s priorities though, the injury could be viewed as further incentive to turn pro now. For one, returning to school risks incurring another even more severe injury before receiving a paycheck, but also, the decline in his draft stock could have positive long-term implications if it allows him to go to a team with a better organizational infrastructure to help him succeed and compete immediately.

Tua Tagovailoa Undergoes Successful Surgery

November 18th, 2019 at 5:59pm CST by Rory Parks

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa underwent surgery on his right hip Monday morning, the team announced. Tagovailoa was carted off the field during the Crimson Tide’s victory over Mississippi State on Saturday due to a dislocated hip, and it was announced shortly thereafter that he would miss the remainder of the collegiate season.

Of course, Tagovailoa was widely projected to be a top draft choice in the 2020 NFL draft, with some believing he could be the No. 1 overall selection. His injury threw not only his draft status, but his entire football career, into jeopardy, but it sounds as if the surgery went well. The statement, written by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain, says Tagovailoa’s prognosis is excellent and indicates the star signal-caller will make a complete recovery. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com passes along the full statement here.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, citing ESPN colleague Laura Rutledge, Tagovailoa will be rehabbing daily in Tuscaloosa (Twitter link). He will be able to resume athletic activity in three months and can begin throwing in the spring, so he may be able to fully work out for teams prior to the draft (if he chooses to enter).

Albert Breer of SI.com spoke with a few NFL execs to get their take on Tagovailoa’s draft stock, and, as expected, it seems too early to tell how teams will view Tagovailoa in light of his newest injury (he also has had two ankle surgeries in the last year, and his smallish stature may make him more susceptible to injury). He may come back to Alabama for his senior season and try to prove that he is not a health risk, though one of the execs Breer spoke with said he should still enter the draft in 2020.

In any event, the fact that the surgery went well is good news, and if he does decide to become a pro next year, he could be available to teams that may not have otherwise had a shot at him.

Injury Updates: Mack, Tagovailoa, Winston

November 17th, 2019 at 9:34pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The latest key injury updates:

The Colts picked up a big win over the Jaguars on Sunday, but they’ll be without a key part of their offense for at least a little while. Running back Marlon Mack fractured his hand in the win over Jacksonville, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Rapoport says that Mack won’t play on Thursday night in a key divisional game against the Texans, and that “it’s up in the air beyond that.” Mack had been the team’s workhorse on offense, regularly garnering 20+ carries. Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins will both see an uptick in work in the meantime.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is done for the year with a hip injury, and there were instant fears that it could put his career in jeopardy. It’ll be a while before we know one way or the other, but the program released a new statement Sunday night that again expressed optimism. Tagovailoa is being transported to Houston to undergo surgery on his hip Monday, team surgeon Lyle Cain said in a statement, via Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News (Twitter link). Cain said that they “anticipate a full recovery,” which is great news.
Bengals receiver Auden Tate went down with a scary neck injury and had to be carted off the field, but fortunately it looks like he’s going to be alright. Tate had rejoined to team and was on their flight back from Oakland, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). Pelissero said all tests were negative and that while he’ll be evaluated again tomorrow, “all signed” indicated that he “avoided major injury.” With A.J. Green still sidelined, Tate has been playing a huge role on offense for Cincy as they still search for their first win of the season.
Jameis Winston picked up a left ankle injury in the Buccaneers’ loss to the Saints, and he was limping pretty badly toward the end of the game. Speaking to the media after the loss, head coach Bruce Arians said that he was about to go to backup Ryan Griffin, and that he should’ve, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Winston was able to convince Arians to let him go back in, but the head coach apparently regretted the decision. Winston told reporters after the game that he’ll be alright moving forward.

Extra Points: Tagovailoa, Kaepernick

November 16th, 2019 at 9:32pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The latest on the two quarterbacks who have been dominating headlines today as we await kickoff tomorrow:

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has already been ruled out for the rest of the season, and there has been some concern his hip-injury could be career-threatening or career-altering. Alabama took the rare step of having their team surgeon release a statement (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network on Twitter), saying that Tagovailoa is “expected to make a full recovery.” That’s obviously great news, and hopefully it turns out to be more than just wishful thinking.
Tagovailoa was widely expected to be taken early in the first-round of April’s NFL draft, and his injury will now have a huge ripple effect. He can choose to head to the NFL and risk a huge dip in his draft stock, or he can still return to Alabama for his senior season. Everyone has been talking about his career being in jeopardy or how far he’ll tumble in the draft, but he also has the option of coming back for the Crimson Tide and proving his health before entering the draft in 2021. To that end, “it would be a complete shock” if Tagovailoa enters the 2020 draft now, opines Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). With such little clarity on a timetable it’s hard to predict anything, but it’s an interesting thought nonetheless.
Another area of dispute has emerged between the NFL and Colin Kaepernick‘s camp. The league said in statements that Nike wanted to shoot footage from the workout and use it in a commercial, but the apparel company is now denying those claims. Nike “was not on hand to film Colin Kaepernick’s workout,” a source confirmed to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link), who also writes that “Nike is currently trying to get the NFL to retract that statement.”
After Kaepernick shifted the workout to a new location, most of the 25 teams on-hand didn’t follow him there. We previously heard that the Redskins, Eagles, 49ers, Chiefs, Jets, Titans, and Lions showed up at the new workout site to watch him throw, and there was apparently an additional mystery team there. Kaepernick’s reps said there was an eighth and as of yet unidentified team scouting, according to a tweet from Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
There was also a point of contention between the league and Kaep’s reps over the waiver that was asked to be signed. The NFL claims it asked the quarterback to sign a standard waiver, and that his team made unreasonable changes to it. You can view the waiver the league sent out courtesy of this tweet sent out by Dianna Russini of ESPN.com, and in subsequent tweets Russini breaks down the relatively mundane details. It doesn’t seem like there’s anything that interesting in the waiver battle.

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa Out For Season

November 16th, 2019 at 5:33pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Top NFL draft prospect (and star quarterback at Alabama) Tua Tagovailoa is out for the season with a dislocated hip with a posterior wall fracture, according Alabama beat writer Aaron Suttles of The Athletic. Tagovailoa was carted off the field earlier today in the Crimson Tide’s game against Mississippi State.

After the Tide completed their 38-7 victory, head coach Nick Saban confirmed that Tagovailoa was being taken to Birmingham for CAT scans and MRIs to AL.com’s Mike Rodak. The reports suggest those scans revealed the news many feared. A dislocated hip with a posterior wall fracture is considered one of the most painful and damaging injuries.

Tagovailoa’s draft stock no longer contains the flash that it did at its peak in the middle of last year. His health and sporadic play in last season’s College Football Playoff raised some questions, while LSU’s Joe Burrow has emerged as a legitimate rival with Tagovailoa for the best quarterback available in next year’s draft class. However, Tagovailoa remained a consensus top-five prospect and still had plenty of season to reassert himself as the best prospect.

Now, Tagovailoa’s injury could put his entire football career in jeopardy. Dr. David J. Chao (also known as Pro Football Doc) details the potential ramifications for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Dr. Chao clarifies that the injury is not identical to Bo Jackson‘s career-ending injury, but is a comparison that is sure to be made. In his previous experience as a former NFL team doctor, Chao recalls one experience with this injury. The player returned in eight weeks, but retired at the end of the season.

This injury injects new levels of uncertainty into Tagovailoa’s future. Not only is he looking at a prolonged rehab, but there now may be questions as to whether he should return to school for his senior season in an attempt to rebuild his draft stock. Granted, this injury could also allow him to fall to a more advantageous long term NFL situation. A lot remains unknown, but one thing is clear: Alabama will be without their starting quarterback for the rest of this season.

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa Carted Off Field

November 16th, 2019 at 12:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Alabama star (and projected top draft pick) Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field during the second quarter of today’s game against Mississippi State. Some are calling it a hip injury, with ESPN’s Molly McGrath saying that the quarterback was “screaming in pain” (via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter). Tagovailoa also appeared to have suffered a bloody nose.

The 2018 Heisman runner-up is no stranger to injuries, as he underwent surgery to repair a high ankle sprain in late October. He returned to the field three weeks later, throwing four touchdowns in a loss to LSU. There were questions if Tagovailoa would even play today’s game, as the quarterback was still suffering from ankle pain.

As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com points out, this will lead to questions about why head coach Nick Saban kept the signal-caller in the game. Alabama was leading Mississippi State 35-7 at the time of the injury, with Tagovailoa having completed 14 of his 18 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns. For what it’s worth, Saban noted that it wasn’t an ankle injury that knocked his star quarterback out of today’s game.

“He hurt his hip. I don’t know anything more than that,” Saban told ESPN at halftime (via Ben Kercheval of CBS Sports). “That was going to be his last series. We were going to do 2-minute before the half with him, just for practice.”

Considering Tagovailoa’s draft stock can’t be much higher, there will also be talk about whether the quarterback has played his final game for Alabama. As David Smith points out, a major injury could cause Tagovailoa to fall in the draft, potentially costing the quarterback millions of dollars. Even if today’s injury proves to not be serious, it might be enough to convince Tagovailoa’s camp to call it a season.

In his most recent mock draft, Sport Illustrated’s Kevin Hanson had Tagovailoa going fourth to the Dolphins. In fact, the pundit didn’t have the Alabama product as the first quarterback off the board; that honor belonged to LSU’s Joe Burrow, who Hanson projects to go first overall to the Bengals. If Tagovailoa’s injury does prove to be serious, that could vicariously boost the draft stock of Oregon’s Justin Herbert or Utah State’s Jordan Love, a pair of quarterbacks who are projected to go in the second-half of the first round.