Taulia Tagovailoa has once again entered the transfer portal. This is his second foray into the portal. He started his collegiate career playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide before transferring to Maryland. Now he seeks a third team to finish off his eligibility.
The USC Trojans have been a front-runner for many portal players and Lincoln Riley doesn’t settle for second-best when it comes to quarterbacks. Could Tagovailoa be his next Heisman candidate?
Speaking of eligibility, before he can move forward with a new team Tagovailoa will have to obtain a waiver from the NCAA to play another season, as 2024 would be his sixth and final season.
Tagovailoa’s Fit With The USC Trojans
Replacing Caleb Williams is no small feat, but when it comes to quarterback scouting, no one is better than USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley. So, while Miller Moss turned heads in the team’s bowl game, Riley won’t be resting on his laurels if there is a quarterback with the ‘right stuff’ available.
Not to mention, many of the top transfer quarterbacks have already made their moves committing to other teams.
Rolling forward with Moss would mean handing the keys to the Ferrari to a student driver. Moss has attempted fewer than 100 passes in his three seasons. If Riley is looking for experience, Tagovailoa has plenty. Over 1400 passing attempts and over 11,000 passing yards. The guarantee that he is a one-year option will allow Moss another year of development while also ensuring the program has a legitimate arm in the offensive backfield.
Of the former Riley-QBs Tagovailoa most resembles Baker Mayfield. Tough stocky build with enough arm talent and mobility to lead Riley’s offense. It isn’t clear if Tagovailoa’s best play has been on display, but his older brother, Tua, is a perfect example of what the right coach and right system can do for a player’s productivity.
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