Most opposing defensive coordinators would rather Alabama didn’t have a quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa. Next fall, there will be two Tagovailoas.
Tua’s younger brother, Taulia, signed with Alabama on Wednesday as one of the highlights of its 2019 recruiting class. Taulia was ranked as the No. 110 overall player and No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the class by the 247Sports composite. Tua was ranked as the No. 32 overall player and No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 class.
“It’s just an opportunity for me and my family and for my brother to just come under and learn from me, learn from our coaching staff,” Tua Tagovailoa said. “I mean, it’s just a great opportunity for him to be here. To have my brother here, it’s awesome.”
Taulia moved with his family to Alabama following Tua’s arrival early in 2017. He enrolled at Thompson High School and helped the Warriors reach the 7A state finals, where they lost to Central (Phenix City).
“Taulia had a lot of success and led his team to the state finals,” coach Nick Saban said on Wednesday. “I know he was banged up at the end of the year and it didn’t work out, but had some great games where he led his team to come from behind. We’re excited about him.”
Tua Tagovailoa will play at least one more season at Alabama, meaning the pair will be on the 2019 team together. Alabama has had a handful of brothers on the team in recent years. Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings’ younger brother, Shawn, was part of the 2016 recruiting class before transferring to South Alabama.
Barrett and Harrison Jones played together for the Crimson Tide, as did Corey and AJ McCarron, to name a few others.
None of those brothers played the same position, though. The elder Tagovailoa quickly shot down the notion of any sibling rivalry in the quarterback room.
“No, there’s no competition between us,” Tua Tagovailoa said.
