Taulia Tagovailoa transfer from Alabama to Maryland approved
A familiar name may feature at quarterback for Maryland if there is a college football season held amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that QB Taulia Tagovailoa, younger brother of Miami Dolphins and former Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa, had his transfer from Alabama to Maryland approved. Taulia is immediately eligible to play for the Terrapins.
The transfer news comes on the same day that six Maryland football players, including QB Josh Jackson, opted out of the college football campaign, as ESPN's Heather Dinich explained.
With Mac Jones and Bryce Young atop the Alabama depth chart at the position, Galu Tagovailoa, Taulia’s father, explained the reasoning behind his son's desired relocation from Tuscaloosa while speaking with AL.com in May:
“It’s really tough and it’s nothing against Alabama. But my boys are competitive and Lia is such a competitive kid. And he wanted an opportunity to compete. He was told that he was going to come in and compete and he didn’t really get that opportunity, so he wanted to use the spring to do that. But with the COVID-19 thing going on, he didn’t really have the opportunity to compete. He’s a competitor. He likes to work. He likes to compete on the field. And just, going into the season this year, he just felt that he wasn’t given that opportunity and he wants to take it somewhere where they’re going to give him the opportunity to make the best of his skill set.”
Galu continued:
"This kid likes to play. He wants a chance to get on the field. He knew that him getting on the field this past season was just to hand off the ball and they didn’t really showcase him and who he is. He doesn’t fear competition. He just wants an opportunity to go out there and play. And the best place right now for him is Maryland.”
The younger Tagovailoa completed nine of 12 pass attempts for 100 yards and a touchdown during his brief stint with the Crimson Tide.
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