re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Taulia Tagovailoa still has Alabama on his mind

ALABASTER, Ala. — When SEC Country visited Honolulu last November, Taulia Tagovailoa, a Class of 2019 4-star quarterback from Thompson High School, said that when Alabama offered him a scholarship heading into his junior year, he wanted to commit to the Crimson Tide right then.

Tagovailoa decided to hold off on committing to Alabama because his parents said he was too young to make his college decision. Fast-forward almost a year from that trip to Hawaii, much is still the same for the nation’s No. 8 dual-threat quarterback. Alabama is still his top choice.

“I’ve been getting a lot of mail from a lot of different schools, but I still feel like Alabama is where I want to be at right now,” Tagovailoa told SEC Country. “They’re looking at me the hardest. They show me a lot of love when I’m there. I’m just always around them.”

Alabaster is approximately an hour from Tuscaloosa, so Taulia gets to visit campus often and hang out with his brother, Tua. Taulia said he usually gets to see Tua at least a few times a week.

Taulia was in attendance for the Fresno State game, where his brother threw his first career touchdown pass for the Tide. He was also there this past Saturday for the Colorado State game. In two games of action, Tagovailoa is 7 of 13 for 64 yards and that touchdown.

“It was exciting. It’s a great memory I’ll have,” Tagovailoa said of his brother’s touchdown. “I’m very happy for him. It’s been a blessing for me because I get to be around him a lot. They have some celebrities at Alabama, and I get to hang out with them, too. It’s fun.”

When Tagovailoa was a recruit, there was some worry from him and those around him that if he ended up sticking with his commitment to Alabama, he may not see the field for a few years. While it’s still very possible he may not start until 2020, after Jalen Hurts graduates, or 2019, if Hurts decides to declare for the NFL draft after his junior season, Taulia said his brother is enjoying himself in Tuscaloosa.

“He loves it there,” Taulia said of Tua. “He loves competing with Jalen, and he loves their workouts. Everything about Alabama is just great. He’s really loving it.”

Taulia said he isn’t planning on making a commitment until his senior season, so Alabama fans shouldn’t expect a decision anytime soon. If he did end up choosing the Tide, Tua would be a junior, so the brothers would have at least one year together before the elder Tagovailoa could decide to leave for the draft.

It’s very likely Taulia will want to choose the Crimson Tide when he’s ready to make his commitment, but, remember, these decisions have to go both ways. It’s possible Alabama may want a different quarterback in the 2019 class. It’s not a given that the team will take Taulia. Just like it’s not a given that Kevontae’ Ruggs, Henry Ruggs III’s brother, chooses Alabama in the 2018 class because there are higher players on the board right now.

Taulia is also keeping his options open and has thought of the possibility of being on opposite sidelines from his brother.

“I’m still looking at all of the SEC schools. LSU, Auburn and Ole Miss are some of the schools, specifically,” Taulia said. “It would be fun to play against Tua.”

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