Alabama will be represented at the Heisman Trophy presentation this year.
Sort of.
Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has led the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners to the College Football Playoffs, is one of four finalists for the award, which will be announced Satruday in New York.
Hurts was a two-year starter at Alabama (2016-17) and started two national title games. He was the backup in 2018 and left after the season to play for the Sooners as a graduate transfer.
The other finalists were Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, defensive end Chase Young and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
Oklahoma boasts the past two Heisman winners in Baker Mayfield in 2017 and Kyler Murray last season. Burrow is the favorite to win it this season.
Hurts has 3,634 passing yards with 32 touchdowns this year for the 11-1 Sooners, who will face top-ranked LSU in the Peach Bowl. Hurts is also the leading rusher for OU with 1,255 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Hurts was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year his first season at Alabama, passing 2,780 yards with 23 touchdowns and rushing for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns. He led the Crimson Tide into the national title game, which Clemson won.
The following year Hurts passed for 2,081 yards and 17 TDs and rushed for 855 yards with eight touchdowns to get the Crimson Tide back to the national title game. He was benched in the second half of the title game against Georgia. Tua Tagovailoa led Alabama to a come-from-behind overtime win.
Hurts stayed with Alabama in 2018 but did not start a game. He came off the bench in the fourth quarter of the SEC title game to give the Crimson Tide a thrilling win against Georgia, throwing a touchdown pass and running for another.
Reach Edwin Stanton at 205-722-0226, edwin.stanton@tuscaloosanews.com or via Twitter, @edwinstanton
