Tua Tagovailoa seems unlikely to return to Alabama for his senior season despite all the injury concerns surrounding him, and the star quarterback may even be able to put some of those concerns to rest prior to the NFL Draft in April.
Tagovailoa is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing hip surgery, which should be a relief for both him and NFL teams that had envisioned having a shot to draft him in the spring. Because of the good prognosis, Tagovailoa is still expected to be taken in the first round. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the 21-year-old could be ready to throw for NFL teams before the draft.
Sources familiar with Tagovailoa’s recovery told Rapoport that the Crimson Tide star is looking at six weeks of very limited activity, as the hip socket he fractured will need to heal like any other broken bone. Tagovailoa’s goal is to be throwing by early-to-mid-spring, depending upon how his body responds.
Draft evaluators consider it likely that Tagovailoa’s injury will only cause him to slip a few spots in the first round. We’ve seen teams get aggressive in pursuing quarterbacks in recent years, and Tagovailoa was once considered the favorite to go No. 1 overall. His talent is undeniable, so there should be plenty of teams willing to take a chance on him if his recovery goes as planned.
Some scouts have already given a very positive outlook for Tagovailoa, and it should only get better as long as he can avoid setbacks.
