B/R Recruiting Breakdown: Alabama QB Commit and Elite 11 MVP Tua Tagovailoa
Each week, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue analyzes a different prospect based on in-person evaluation and intensive film study. Here's our latest scouting report of a promising young athlete and how he projects as a college player.
More than 4,000 miles west of Tuscaloosa, an integral part of Alabama's offensive future flourishes for Hawaiian heavyweight St. Louis High School.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, orchestrating the same offensive attack that once starred Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, decimates defenses with dual-threat capabilities that make him among the most coveted recruits in the 2017 class.
He threw 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions as a junior, tallied 2,583 passing yards and 576 rushing yards (6.6 per attempt) last fall. Midway through his senior season, Tagovailoa is now less than 500 yards shy of the all-time career state passing record (8,001), according to Hawaii Prep World.
Considered a relatively unknown commodity earlier this cycle, he earned an invitation to Elite 11 finals after attending an Oakland, California, regional showcase. He proceeded to impress peers and coaches alike en route to The Opening, where Tagovailoa earned Elite 11 MVP honors and overall seven-on-seven tournament MVP recognition.
This six-week stretch of pressure-packed competition lasted from late May through early July, helping alleviate concerns about his ability to adapt to the Crimson Tide offense.
"After what I've seen from him [at Elite 11 finals in Los Angeles] and being with him [at The Opening], I'm so impressed with him and I think the sky is the limit for him," Elite 11 instructor Matt James told Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani. "If he gets in that offense and he does what he did here, watch out."
Now well underway with his final prep season before joining forces with Alabama head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Tagovailoa warrants a greater spotlight than ever. Let's dig in here with our latest B/R breakdown.
The Basics
High School: St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Size: 6'1", 216 lbs
Recruitment Status: Committed to Alabama on May 2
Prospect Assessment
- He was undoubtedly the most galvanizing figure we've seen emerge in Elite 11 process.
- Seven-on-seven teammates at The Opening became supporters immediately but this sentiment wasn't exclusive to them. Tagovailoa led a bible study during the event and alpha players were drawn to him.
- 4-star receiver KJ Hamler (from Detroit area): "Tua is the happiest, most energetic person I've ever met in my life."
- Answered the bell in a big way for Elite 11 staff, who challenged Tagovailoa to retrain himself fundamentally to flourish from under center. He posted the top "Pro Day" score at Elite 11 finals.
- Exudes a quiet confidence expressed through calmness in the pocket and an almost constant smirk across his face; the kind of guy you want 10 teammates to turn to in the huddle during crunch time.
- Some quarterback recruits—even blue-chip prospects—noticeably force themselves to show leadership. It occurs naturally in this case and he's comfortable as pressure mounts.
- A serious rushing threat who can bolt by defenders off the edge and routinely evade pressure by rotating beyond the pocket.
- Also shreds opponents without bringing his fleet feet into the equation. Tagovailoa, a left-handed thrower, implements a blend of velocity and touch that others struggle to master at this stage of their career.
- Whether he's targeting a running back behind scrimmage or a receiver streaking 40 yards downfield, pass attempts are crisp and consistent, with limited wobble to impede trajectory.
- Though Tagovailoa doesn't possess prototypical 5-star size; he carries an excellent physique at 6'1" with a strong base.
- Quick response to defensive alignment combines with a rapid release, allowing him to flick darts downfield with limited time.
- Launches accurate long-distance attempts that measure up against the best quarterbacks in this class.
Tagovailoa doesn't simply rely on physical gifts, looking off defenders during the initial progressions of a play before adjusting his sight line to sling it toward an intended target.
This example below starts with Tagovailoa positioned approximately eight yards deep into the end zone, drawing defenders to his left with shoulders and helmet tilted toward that portion of the field:
His stance encourages the opposing free safety to drift away from a region he wants to exploit all along, leaving his target (No. 10) in man-to-man coverage more than a stride ahead of the defender. Tagovailoa places the ball beyond reach and on his receiver after more than 50 yards in the air:
These throws from the pocket put his patience on display, as Tagovailoa routinely works through progressions and resists any urge to lock onto a target off the snap. This tendency also held true at The Opening, where he worked against an array of lauded defensive prospects.
His willingness to wait on the trigger is correlated with Tagovailoa's versatility behind center. He feels the pocket collapse and reacts accordingly, smoothly drifting horizontally while gauging whether a pass attempt is salvageable or whether the play is better off with him tucking the ball and taking off.
In the progression below, Tagovailoa encounters heat from his left and turns away from his throwing arm. With two linemen within three yards and a linebacker providing containment straight ahead, he is left with a choice:
Tagovailoa's split-second decisiveness shines. Noticing the linebacker leaning toward sideline coverage, he plants hard on his right foot and surges upfield to split the linebacker and linemen, easily bursting through an arm-tackle attempt.
Tagovailoa turns a broken pass play into a 30-yard gain that sets St. Louis well inside red-zone territory. Along the way, he uses lateral agility to evade another tackle and picks up a few extra yards by plowing through a defender with power before hitting the turf:
This sequence is an appropriate example of what makes Tagovailoa a dangerous matchup regardless of defensive framework. Adept at taking advantage of lapses in pass coverage, he's still a significant threat on the ground.
Tagovailoa doesn't abandon pass plays at the first sign of pressure but quickly calculates an escape route and delivers significant gains with a combination of downfield vision, nimbleness and brute force. Built like a power back, he's a major factor in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Long-Term Outlook
Alabama began altering its recruiting approach at quarterback two years ago, when 2014 Elite 11 MVP Blake Barnett told B/R that Saban and Kiffin desired athletes who could create opportunities with their feet when necessary. Barnett, who left the program earlier this season, was followed onto the roster by 2016 signee Jalen Hurts, a Texas standout who gained nearly 1,400 rushing yards as a high school senior.
The Crimson Tide capitalized on Hurts' athleticism immediately, and the true freshman has clearly become an asset for college football's top-ranked squad. He has 1,813 total yards (428 rushing), 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions, building a dark-horse Heisman Trophy campaign.
Saban was looking for a team leader to emerge at quarterback and that's exactly what Hurts has proven to be, which may prevent Tagovailoa from making an early impact in Tuscaloosa. Other programs will surely continue to gauge his interest, and the fact that Hurts could be entrenched as Alabama's starter through at least 2019 may encourage him to entertain alternative options.
There was a time when this marriage didn't exactly make sense, given Tagovailoa's reputation as a spread-option weapon and Alabama's style of play. However, both he and the Crimson Tide offense are evolving, and we're left with little doubt about his ability to transition into whatever scheme requirements await him in the years to come.
Tagovailoa completed his junior season as a fringe top-10 quarterback recruit in our eyes. He now enters the second half of this final prep campaign sitting atop my personal 2017 quarterback rankings, a testament to his athleticism, attitude and willingness to work toward becoming a complete prospect.
Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Quotes and observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.
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