SEC analyst Jordan Rodgers thinks Jalen Hurts should protect his eligibility

Ever since last season’s national championship game when Tua Tagovailoa shot to stardom for Alabama, Jalen Hurts’ future with the Crimson Tide has been murky.

After being named the starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season, Tua Tagovailoa has built upon his success from the national championship game a season ago. Unfortunately for Jalen Hurts, that means a diminished role on offense. So the biggest question that remains for both Hurts and the Crimson Tide is where do we go from here?

Alabama is a perfect 4-0 with Tagovailoa under center this season, and it doesn’t look like that is changing anytime soon. Hurts, who has played in all four of Alabama’s games this season, will risk his redshirt year if he plays in another game. Should he sit out for the remainder of the year and transfer after the season is over, or be happy playing in the tail end of blowout wins? SEC analyst and former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers certainly has some thoughts on the matter.

“If you’re Alabama you selfishly [burn his redshirt], but if you’re Jalen Hurts you say no,” Rodgers said. “There’s no reason he should be stepping on the field. As a player in this day and age with the new rule, you have to protect your eligibility.”

Rodgers is referring to the new NCAA transfer rule that allows a player to transfer without having to sit out a year only if they did not play in more than 4 games in the season prior to transferring. Because Hurts is on the verge of forgoing his redshirt, Alabama’s upcoming game against Louisiana will have a lot at stake for the junior quarterback.

“It’s admirable what he’s doing, it’s admirable that he stayed, but if it’s me I’m protecting my eligibility and I’m not playing one more [game],” Rodgers said.

Hurts has been nothing but supportive of Tagovailoa who captured everyone’s attention last season after leading Alabama to a trilling overtime win against Georgia in the national championship.

Tagovailoa’s success is no fluke either. Rodgers, who is partnering with Holiday Inn Express to help fans “Be the Readiest” on game days, is impressed by Tua’s accuracy. It’s not his completions that impress Rodgers, it’s how Tagovailoa sets his wide receivers up to pick up more yards after catching the pass.

“Tua’s exceptional at what he does,” Rodgers said. “His completions are as accurate as I’ve ever seen. His ability to hit people in strides, manipulate trajectory…he’s as good as there is in football right now.”