Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa announces he's entering NFL draft

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa announced Monday he's forgoing his senior season with the Crimson Tide to enter the 2020 NFL draft. Once considered a formality, there was doubt whether Tagovailoa would leave Alabama for professional football after suffering a season-ending fractured hip against Mississippi State. 

"I've had a difficult time making this decision about my future, (but it's) with lots of prayers, thoughts and guidance I have decided I'm entering the NFL Draft." Tagovailoa said during a Monday morning press conference inside the Alabama team facility.

The November injury is expected to keep Tagovailoa out of action for at least six months, but he remains one of the top quarterbacks in the draft and is still expected to be among the top 15 overall picks.

USA TODAY's most recent mock draft projects him going No. 5 overall to the Miami Dolphins. 

 

Tagovailoa is seven weeks removed from undergoing emergency surgery Nov. 18. He transitioned to crutches two weeks ago after roughly six weeks without any weight-bearing, and has been quite mobile ever since, including utilizing just a single crutch to get around currently. He is expected to resume more physical activity like light jogging around the 12-week post-op window in early-to-mid February.

Tagovailoa becomes the fifth of Alabama’s loaded junior class to opt to leave early for the NFL, following recent defections by receiver Jerry Jeudy, safety Xavier McKinney and right tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. Redshirt junior outside linebacker Terrell Lewis also elected to leave early for the NFL when he chose not to play in the Citrus Bowl following the conclusion of the regular season last month.