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Report: Tua Tagovailoa's Brother Taulia Has Maryland Transfer Waiver Approved
August 7, 2020
The NCAA has reportedly approved a transfer waiver from quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa to complete his move from Alabama to Maryland.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the update Friday and noted Tagovailoa, the brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, will be eligible to play immediately for the Terrapins.
He announced his intention to transfer in May with a statement on Twitter:
His father, Galu, provided further details about the decision to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, saying the coronavirus pandemic would have prevented his son from competing for playing time with the Crimson Tide:
"It's really tough and it's nothing against Alabama. But my boys are competitive and Lia is such a competitive kid. And he wanted an opportunity to compete. He was told that he was going to come in and compete and he didn't really get that opportunity, so he wanted to use the spring to do that. But with the COVID-19 thing going on, he didn't really have the opportunity to compete. He's a competitor. He likes to work. He likes to compete on the field. And just, going into the season this year, he just felt that he wasn't given that opportunity and he wants to take it somewhere where they're going to give him the opportunity to make the best of his skill set."
Alabama's QB depth chart is led by Mac Jones, who filled in after Tagovailoa's brother suffered a season-ending hip injury last year before leaving for the NFL, and also features Bryce Young, a 5-star prospect from the 2020 recruiting class.
It would have made it difficult for Tagovailoa to earn consistent playing time.
Instead, he could have the inside track on the Terps' starting job after Josh Jackson, last year's starter, opted out of the 2020 season because of the pandemic.
Tagovailoa and Lance LeGendre, a redshirt freshman who appeared in three games in 2019, are the top contenders to take over for Jackson.
Maryland is slated to open the revamped 2020 campaign, which will feature a 10-game, conference-only schedule for Big Ten teams, Sept. 5 with a road game against Iowa.