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#pounditFriday, March 29, 2024

Tua Tagovailoa considering return to Alabama for senior season

Tua Tagovailoa

Many people assumed after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a season-ending hip injury that the quarterback would leave Alabama for the NFL Draft. Their reasoning was simple: why would he risk another injury without the backing of an NFL contract? Tagovailoa has considered that, but he said on Tuesday that he is heavily considering a return to Alabama for his senior season.

Tagovailoa told TideSports.com he is weighing the decision because he has to factor in whether a return to school would help him elevate his draft stock and therefore lead to greater earnings on his first contract. For example, if he were to be drafted late in the first round in 2020 rather than first overall in 2021, that could be a difference of $20 million in total contract and guaranteed money. Being the middle of the first round in 2020 compared to first in 2021 could be a difference of around $10 million in both.

“There is a risk and a reward if I stay and a risk and a reward if I go,” Tagovailoa told TideSports.com.

“The risk if I stay is obviously ‘Do I get hurt again?’ The reward is that I could come back and have another good year like my sophomore year and elevate myself back to the very top of the (NFL) draft.”

Tagovailoa did not explicitly say whether he is leaning one way or another. But his comments suggest he may be leaning toward a return.

“If I leave, I think the risk is a little higher. That risk would be how far do I drop in the draft,” Tagovailoa said.

The Alabama quarterback says he has consulted with his parents for advice, but for now, they have told him the decision is his. Tagovailoa also says his injury is not causing him any fear of playing again. You can read the entire interview here.

The 2018 Heisman finalist was viewed as a likely top-5 draft pick and candidate to be the No. 1 player taken prior to his injury. He had passed for 2,840 yards and 33 touchdowns prior to his injury. For his career, he has thrown for 87 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

A report last month said scouts believed Tua could still be a top 10 pick. If that’s the case, a return to school might not make sense.

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