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Transfer Portal News: Maryland Terrapins Elite 3-Year Starting Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa Leaves Second Team
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Transfer Portal News: Maryland Terrapins Elite 3-Year Starting Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa Leaves Second Team

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Andrew Kusleika  |  Last updated Jan 5, 2024 4:08 PM ET

The Maryland Terrapins are losing one of the best quarterbacks in the program’s history as three-year starter Taulia Tagovailoa has entered the transfer portal.

Tagovailoa started his career with his brother Tua as a member of head coach Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, but transferred to the Terrapins after just one year. Tagovailoa has been a part of the Maryland team for four years, and has started in all but one of those years.

In an article from the Washington Post, Maryland Terrapins senior linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II expressed his gratitude for Tagovailoa as a teammate and a friend.

“Taulia’s my guy,” Terrapins senior linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II said. “Great brother, great teammate, great friend, not only to me but the whole team, and he’s meant a lot to this program, and he’s giving up a lot. He’s doing what’s best for him. He’s transitioning to that next level, and he’s moving on, so we’re pulling for him. We’re excited for him.”

When Tagovailoa initially opted out of Maryland’s bowl game, it was assumed that he was doing so to prepare for the NFL Draft. His decision to enter the transfer portal has come a lot later than most other players that decided to enter the transfer portal, especially when considering he decided not to play in the bowl game.

Tagovailoa was pegged as a late round pick, and is likely using his COVID year to increase his draft stock. The Terrapins won eight games this season, and Tagovailoa likely believes his draft stock will be better off if he enters the transfer portal. Another Maryland teammate, wide receiver Jeshaun Jones, joined Hyppolite II in expressing his gratitude.

“Definitely surprising, but I’m happy for him, and I’m thankful for him and everything he’s done for me and for this program,” Jones said. “He’s played a huge role for me and my career here and a huge role in our team’s success. We’re all thankful for him and grateful for his time here.”

Maryland Terrapins transfer portal QB Taulia Tagovailoa holds a slew of Maryland records

Tagovailoa’s three years as a starter saw him lead the Terrapins to a 22-16 record overall. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection twice, and holds a plethora of Maryland passing records. He leads the Terrapins in:

  • Career Passing Touchdowns – 76 (25 more than No. 2)
  • Single-Season Passing Touchdowns – 26
  • Touchdowns Responsible for – 89
  • Career Completion Percentage – 67.1%
  • Single-Season Completion Percentage – 69.2%
  • Passing Efficiency – 145.9
  • Career Completions – 955 (305 more than No. 2)
  • Single-Season Completions – 328
  • Career Passing Yards – 11,256 (3,955 more than No. 2)
  • Single-Season Passing Yards – 3,860
  • 300-Yard Passing Games – 15
  • Single-Season 300-Yard Passing Games – 7

Tagovailoa set the record for yards passing at Maryland against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after throwing for 361 yards, which was the most he threw for all season.

Former Maryland Terrapins Taulia Tagovailoa hopes to follow in his brother’s footsteps after entering the transfer portal

Taulia Tagovailoa was expected to be a late round pick had he entered the draft after the 2023 season. His brother, Tua, was the No. 5 overall pick in the NFL Draft. He was the second QB taken off the board that year.

The two brothers played together as QBs at Alabama, and Taulia only decided to leave after his brother left to get drafted. Taulia did not see the field much under Saban, while his brother Tua was a Heisman finalist and National Championship winning QB.

Taulia is vocal about cheering his brother on as he watches him in the NFL. Tua has solidified himself as the franchise QB for the Miami Dolphins, and was even in the midst of MVP conversations at one point during the 2023 season.

Multiple transfer portal QBs have already been taken off the board during the 2023-2024 cycle. Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard just left the transfer portal with a commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Another highly-touted transfer portal quarterback in Washington State’s Cam Ward decided to enter the NFL Draft.

Other highly-touted QBs like K.J. Jefferson, Kyle McCord and Aidan Chiles have all chosen their landing spots. Taulia decided to opt out of the bowl game, which makes his decision to enter the transfer portal this late a puzzling one. The Miami Hurricanes are already talked about as a potential landing spot for Taulia.

While Taulia would need a waiver to be allowed to participate in the 2024 season, it is unlikely that he would make this decision without some inclination that he would be able to play. Taulia is sacrificing going into the NFL a year older for another chance to improve his draft stock, and sitting out for another year would be extremely detrimental to his cause.

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This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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