Taulia Tagovailoa is coming to the Big Ten East.
The younger brother of former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa, Taulia Tagovailoa is leaving Tuscaloosa after just one year to transfer to Maryland, he announced Friday on Twitter.
God bless! #GoTerps pic.twitter.com/BvOSv8CsG7
— Taulia Tagovailoa (@tauliaa12) May 15, 2020
While Tua Tagovailoa led Alabama to a national championship off the bench as a true freshman and was the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback for the last two seasons before going to the Miami Dolphins with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, Taulia Tagovailoa faced a steeper path to playing time at Alabama. Ranked as the No. 180 overall prospect in the class of 2019, Tagovailoa wasn't nearly as highly recruited as his brother or as Bryce Young, the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2020, who is expected to immediately compete with Mac Jones for the Crimson Tide's starting job this year.
At Maryland, however, Taulia Tagovailoa should have a much better chance to win the starting job. Incumbent starter Josh Jackson is entering his senior year, and redshirt freshman Lance LeGendre is the only other scholarship quarterback currently on the roster. Per NCAA transfer rules, Tagovailoa will have to sit out a year unless he receives a waiver for immediate eligibility.
By transferring to Maryland, Tagovailoa will now be playing for his brother's former offensive coordinator at Alabama, Mike Locksley, who is entering his second year as Maryland's head coach.
