Taulia Tagovailoa, the youthful brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, is heading to the NFL after his efforts to play a sixth collegiate season didn’t pan out.
Tagovailoa, who performed 4 of his 5 faculty seasons on the College of Maryland, had his waiver request to play a sixth yr of faculty ball denied, based on a number of experiences.
He had hoped to enter the switch portal, skipping the Terrapins’ bowl recreation with the opportunity of being wholesome to affix one other staff for yet one more season.
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Taulia Tagovailoa #3 of the Maryland Terrapins drops again to go in opposition to the Penn State Nittany Lions at SECU Stadium on November 04, 2023 in School Park, Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Pictures)
Tagovailoa’s petition led with the very fact he performed solely 5 video games as a freshman on the College of Alabama, his older brother’s alma mater.
Nonetheless, soccer gamers are allowed to make an look in as much as 4 video games whereas holding a redshirt. Tua harm his hip throughout that season in 2019, and two of Taulia’s 5 appearances got here after the harm, together with the sport it occurred — a blowout in opposition to Mississippi State.
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ESPN reported that Nick Saban, who simply retired as Alabama’s head coach, supported Taulia’s waiver. Nevertheless it didn’t undergo, and Taulia should set his concentrate on taking part in the sport on the subsequent degree.
Following his brother coming into the draft, the place he was chosen fifth general by Miami, Taulia transferred to Maryland.
Taulia Tagovailoa #3 of the Maryland Terrapins rolls out of the pocket in opposition to the Michigan Wolverines at SECU Stadium on November 18, 2023 in School Park, Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Pictures)
In 4 seasons with the Terrapins, Taulia threw for 11,256 yards with 76 touchdowns to 37 interceptions with a 67.1% completion fee. He additionally rushed for 207 yards with 13 touchdowns on the bottom as effectively.
Not like his brother, Taulia isn’t anticipated to be the cream of the crop on this yr’s draft class. The quarterback, who throws right-handed, stands at 5-foot-11, which would be the first measurable that will probably be criticized by groups as a result of it isn’t prototypical quarterback top.
It’s not unusual for shorter prospects to be a superb quarterback within the NFL, with the likes of Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, and others being profitable. Nonetheless, in a category stuffed with prime quarterback expertise like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, Taulia’s draft inventory doubtless lands him within the second or third day of picks, if in any respect, by groups.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa #3 of the Maryland Terrapins in motion in opposition to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights throughout a recreation at SHI Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Wealthy Schultz/Getty Pictures)
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We’ll see if a staff finally ends up taking Taulia with one in every of their picks in April.
