Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa wants to continue his college career, but it won’t be with the Terrapins.
The Athletic reported Friday that the younger brother of Miami Dolphins star Tua Tagovailoa has entered the transfer portal. According to the report, he would need NCAA approval for an extra season of eligibility.
There had been speculation that Tagovailoa would declare the 2024 NFL Draft. However, despite setting the Big Ten record for career passing yards (11,256), the 5-foot-11 quarterback lacks the prototypical size NFL scouts like at that position. Also, along with the huge passing numbers in four seasons at Maryland, he also threw 37 interceptions in 41 games, which some see as a red flag.
Could Tagovailoa help a college team next season? Absolutely. With his family ties and record-setting resumé, he could likely command better NIL money with a more high-profile program. In fact, last summer, Tagovailoa said he had received “crazy money” offers to transfer at that time, including $1.5 million from an unnamed SEC school.
Inside Maryland Sports reported that Tagovailoa’s family is trying to bring him to the Miami Hurricanes, which would place him in the same city as his brother and opens up a world of NIL possibilities.
According to The Athletic report, his approval for an extra season of eligibility is uncertain, because he played in five games as a freshman at Alabama in 2019 before transferring to Maryland. That’s one more game than NCAA redshirt rules allow.
College football fans generally wondered about Tagovailoa’s prospects, either pro or college, following the report.
“[Taulia] Tagovailoa's family would like to bring him to the city where his brother, Tua Tagovailoa, is a star, sources in Miami & Maryland told IMS…it's a brilliant marketing idea, 2 brothers slinging it every weekend for 2 big-name teams in a flashy market? The marketing… https://t.co/9pIYvbXYyN pic.twitter.com/Sgvsd9RIXr
— Dru (@dru_star) January 5, 2024
First thing I thought was I'd like to see him back at Bama, but I know that's not likely.
Ohio St would be interesting to me.
Or maybe their biggest rival, Michigan.
How are they set up for JJ McCarthys replacement, should he declare for the draft?— Matt Mosley (@mattmosley565) January 5, 2024
Come play in Miami with his brother
— Kyle Goodhue (@ktg113) January 5, 2024
I thought he was going pro? Guess that NIL sound better
— Nick Saban (@sabanfaux) January 5, 2024
