Jalen Hurts is 26-2 as a starter at the University of Alabama, during his tenure as quarterback at the university. Hurts has led the Crimson Tide to two consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship games.
The first against Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 CFP Championship an instant classic that rivals any other national championship game. Both offensives marched seamlessly up and down the field and scored at will. Ultimately, ending in the Tigers winning 35-31. Fast-Forward to the 2018 CFP Championship, Hurts was benched during halftime after struggling in the first 30 minutes losing his spot to freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa however the Crimson Tide won the game 26-23, against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Tagovailoa success in the championship game has sparked a quarterback controversy heading into Alabama’s annual A-Day Game this Saturday. Where Tagovailoa status is in question because of a broken bone in his throwing hand. Despite being benched Hurts “went to work the following week and arrived at spring practice in the best shape of his career” via Bleacher Report
“I told Jalen, you f–ked up, you opened the door and put yourself in this situation,” Averion Hurts, Jalen’s dad, told B/R in an exclusive interview in the Hurts’ hometown of Channelview, Texas. “Now it’s up to you to dig yourself out.”
Jalen Hurts not being allowed to address the media, his father Averion projects that if his son doesn’t win the starting spot he’d likely transfer and that “he’d be the biggest free agent in college football history.”
“This whole thing about Jalen is going to be a backup or he’s going to give up, it’s all just completely bogus,” said Alabama tailback Damien Harris. “Anyone who thinks he’s just going to sit back and take it clearly doesn’t know him.”
“Coach Saban’s job is to do what’s best for his team. I have no problem with that,” Averion Hurts said. “My job is to do what’s best for Jalen—and make no mistake, Jalen is a quarterback, and he wants to play quarterback. He loves Alabama, loves Coach Saban and everything about that place. But he wants to play, and he will play…
“Saban likely will carry the competition all the way through fall camp and into game week, like he did two years ago with Hurts and three others.”
Hurts’, in his Junior year has been forced to adjust with what most NFL quarterbacks struggle to come to grips with multiple changing of offensive coordinators and quarterback coaches. Alabama is on their fourth of each since Hurts has been under center. Naturally resulting in a bit of regression in terms of last seasons numbers.
That fact didn’t stop ESPN’s Mel Kiper in January, from suggesting that Hurts should change positions as he told reporters Hurts won’t play quarterback in the NFL.
However, an NFC scout told Bleacher Report. “Jalen can get better in any number of areas; there’s no question about that. But to say a kid who is 19 can’t play the position and should move to another is incredibly shortsighted. … You’re going to tell me a guy who is a proven winner, who is an unreal locker room presence, who just needs coaching and work, will never play quarterback in our league? Come on, expand your mind a little bit.”