Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a projected top-10 pick, has decided to skip his senior season at Alabama to enter the 2020 NFL Draft. Tagovailoa announced his decision during a Monday morning press conference at Alabama’s Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility.
Tua is recovering from hip surgery after suffering a dislocated hip against Mississippi State on November 16. The injury hasn’t wavered his draft stock, however. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Alabama signal-caller ranked as the third overall prospect on his latest big board.
Tagovailoa completed 71.4% of his passes for 2,840 yards and 33 touchdowns during the 2019 season. He will leave Alabama with multiple school passing records, including single game, single season and career touchdown passes. In three years at Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa threw for 7,442 yards, 87 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions.
Tua Tagovailoa joins Crimson Tide stars Jerry Juedy, Xavier McKinney, and Jedrick Willis as the fourth Alabama player to decide to turn pro. Alabama’s Najee Harris has yet to make a decision on his NFL future, and receiver DeVonta Smith will return to Tuscaloosa for his senior season.