I don’t see what the fuss is about. What’s wrong with a 2-QB system? I have read many articles that say that Jalen Hurts will transfer and that Tua Tagovailoa has won the job. Tua Tagovailoa is a great Quarterback, but that doesn’t mean that Jalen Hurts isn’t better than all of the NFL QBs. According to Jalen Hurts’ father, Averion Hurts, if Jalen Hurts doesn’t win the quarterback competition than he will transfer. To me, there really isn’t much of a quarterback competition. So, let’s get these points straight.
1. Jalen Hurts WILL NOT transfer
2. Tua Tagovailoa WILL NOT transfer either
3. Jalen Hurts has only played for Alabama for 2 seasons and has already led them to back-to-back CFP Championship appearances
4. Jalen Hurts IS NOT A RUNNING BACK, he is a quarterback
5. A 2-QB system will work for Alabama and they will win the championship
6. Last of all, anybody who thinks that Jalen Hurts can’t throw is a lunatic
Now that all of you understand that, I’ll tell you guys what Hurts’ father said and what I think about.
“Coach Saban’s job is to do what’s best for his team.” Averion Hurts said. “I’m fine with that. My job is to do what’s best for Jalen, and make no mistake, Jalen is a quarterback, and he wants to play quarterback. He loves Alabama, loves coach Saban and everything about that place. But he wants to play, and he will play.” He also said that if he doesn’t get to start “he’d be the biggest free agent in college football history.”
My opinion:
I disagree somewhat. Yeah, if Hurts doesn’t get to play quarterback then he will transfer. But, how many times do I have to say that this a 2-QB system? Nobody is losing this competition. Nobody’s becoming the “biggest free agent in college football history”. Here’s why Jalen Hurts is so important to Alabama.
Last season, Hurts threw only 1 interceptions and threw for 17 touchdowns including the postseason. Jalen threw for 2 touchdowns in the CFP Semifinals. He led Alabama to a 24-7 victory over Florida State who, at that time, was ranked #3. He led Alabama to the National Championship twice in his first 2 years, becoming the only quarterback this century to do that. Hurts ran for 954 yards in his first season and 855 yards in his second season. Jalen Hurts scored 36 touchdowns as a true freshman. He also led Alabama to a 12-0 record in the regular season, an SEC Championship victory, a CFP Semifinals win, and while he didn’t play well in his first CFP Championship, he did score with a passing touchdown, a running touchdown, and he threw no interceptions. Also, if it weren’t for Deshaun Watson’s touchdown pass with 1 second left, Hurts would have won the National Championship as a true freshman and, because of his late rushing touchdown to put Alabama up 31-28, would have been named MVP. The loss wasn’t completely Jalen Hurts’ fault. Bo Scarbrough, one of Alabama’s running backs, who scored the first 2 touchdowns of the game, went down with an injury during the game. Also, before the game, Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin, left during the week in between their Semifinals victory and the title game. Hurts was only a true freshman, going from high school to playing Clemson in the championship in a 1-year span, so it would be understandable if he made some mistakes during the game. Now he had to play without the Offensive Coordinator who led them their. Kiffin left only a few days before the championship, leaving Jalen Hurts no time to get use to the new Coordinator. All things considered, I don’t think Jalen Hurts’ first year was bad, despite others beliefs. In Jalen Hurts’ second season he led Alabama to the CFP Championship. Jalen Hurts did not play well in the first half as Alabama went down 13-0. When Tua Tagovailoa came in to play the second half, Jalen Hurts showed remarkable class. He wasn’t acting like a brat, Hurts was all for the team. When he was interviewed, Jalen Hurts said that his message to Tagovailoa was “play your game”, and he later said that Tua Tagovailoa was “built for stuff like this”. Hurts is a great teammate, amazing quarterback, and a outstanding leader. Not to mention that he’s one of the best weight lifters in college football. I don’t understand why people want Hurts to change his position. In his freshman year he won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. If Jalen Hurts did transfer, he would definitely win the Heisman trophy. Of course, if he stays and there is a 2-QB system, then he wouldn’t even come close to winning the Heisman. But, since the only thing Hurts cares about in football is winning, he will stay at Alabama.
Nick Saban said that during spring practice Jalen Hurts improved a lot on his QB reads. I think that if Alabama will win the CFP Championship if they keep both quarterbacks. However, if they don’t keep both, then they have less of a chance to win it all. They still can win the championship with only one of them, but it would be better to run a 2-QB system. Jalen Hurts is responsible for 61 touchdowns over his career. Why should Alabama get rid of a player who is responsible for 61 touchdowns? If anyone should transfer it should be Mac Jones. Jones is a very good player, yet, he will not play any this year because Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa are the split starters. Mac Jones would be a sure starter on a different school.
Jalen Hurts is my #3 overall prospect for the 2020 XFL Draft. As you probably know, the XFL is a new league that will start in 2020.
photos by: Phillip Hendon
