ORLANDO — University of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa announced on social media Wednesday night that he would make his decision about whether to enter the NFL Draft or return for his senior season at Alabama on Monday, January 6.
“I’ll be making my decision on the 6th,” Tagivailoa said on his Twitter account (@tuaaman). “God bless and Roll Tide.”
Tagovailoa’s post came just hours after Alabama’s 35-16 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on Wednesday. The quarterback was on the Alabama sideline on crutches for the game as he continues rehabilitation for hip surgery that followed a November 11 hip dislocation in the second quarter of Alabama’s game at Mississippi State.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban was asked about Tagovailoa’s pending decision in the post-game press conference at Camping World Stadium on Wednesday.
“That’s a decision that I think his family needs to make,” Saban said. “And I’m sure when they make that decision, they’ll let everybody know. I think it’s our responsibility and our job to make sure that we give them all the information from an NFL standpoint, from a medical standpoint, from a rehab standpoint. And if there is any way that he could possibly be devalued because of his injury, what are the consequences of that and how does that affect his decision and what he does in the future. But he’s been a great leader for us. He’s a great player on our team. He was elected captain of the team by his teammates. And we just want what’s best for him.”
Saban mentioned that Alabama had nine juniors, including Tagovailoa, had received pre-draft grades from the NFL’s Junior Evaluation Board. One of those juniors, linebacker Dylan Moses, announces his intention to return to Alabama earlier this week.
