Ever since joining the Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa has dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his role on the team, earning unwavering trust of his head coach. However, the previous season proved to be a challenging one for the quarterback, falling short in their pursuit of the Lombardi trophy as their playoffs journey was cut short by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Amidst the frustrations, Tagovailoa managed to captivate fans with his musical talents. This display of artistry harkened back to his collegiate days, where he first began to garner attention for both his on and off-field prowess.
Tua Tagovailoa college team: All the details that you need
Tua Tagovailoa embarked on a remarkable college football journey with the University of Alabama, donning the crimson jersey for the Crimson Tide. Nevertheless, he began his college career as the backup to Jalen Hurts in 2017.
Being heralded as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the 2017 recruiting class, Tagovailoa made his collegiate debut on September 9, 2017, against Fresno State.
This marked the beginning of a dynamic career that let him play a pivotal role in securing a come-from-behind victory in the national championship game during his freshman year.
The momentum continued into the 2018 season as the 25-year-old secured the starting quarterback position. He made his debut as a starter against Louisville on September 1, 2018. This transition propelled him into one of the most efficient passing seasons in college football history, guiding the Tide to their fourth consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship appearance.
Exploring Tua Tagovailoa’s NCAA career stats
Tua Tagovailoa’s college career showcased impressive stats over the course of 32 games, during which Alabama boasted a remarkable 30-2 record. Additionally, throughout his NCAA career, Tua went 22-2 as a starter, per NCAA.
In 32 games played, he completed 474 passes out of 684 attempts, boasting an impressive completion rate of 69.2%. His total passing yards accumulated to a staggering 7,442, averaging an impressive 10.9 yards per attempt.
As a backup of Jalen Hurts, he played in eight games in his freshman year. In that season, he completed 49 passes out of 77 attempts while throwing for 636 yards and 11 touchdowns, with only two interceptions. As a first full-time starter in the following year, the Dolphin’s hero racked up 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns and just six interceptions. It earned him a remarkable passer rating of 199.4.
With setting numerous records and statistical benchmarks, Tagovailoa secured his place in college football history. Notably, he holds the top spot in FBS history for career passing efficiency rating (min. 325 completions) at an impressive 199.45.
Throughout his college career, Tagovailoa displayed an extraordinary ability to find the end zone, ranking first in FBS history in the percentage of passes for touchdowns in both a season (12.1 percent in 2018) and a career (12.7 percent). Additionally, he topped the charts in average gain per play in a career (min. 7,500 yards) with an impressive 9.84 yards.
Among his notable achievements, Tagovailoa earned the 2018 Orange Bowl MVP, 2018 Sporting News College Football Player of the Year, and the 2018 Maxwell Award. Despite finishing as the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting to Kyler Murray, Tagovailoa’s stellar performance earned him prestigious Walter Camp and Maxwell awards.
In January 2020, Tagovailoa announced a pivotal decision to forgo his senior year and enter the highly anticipated 2020 NFL Draft, marking the transition from collegiate stardom to the professional ranks.
