![]() ![]() “We talked on the phone probably more than anyone I’ve ever recruited,” said Larry Johnson Sr., the Buckeyes’ defensive line and associate head coach. The last time he changed teams, from DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, to Ohio State, Chase Young made an indelible impression on his recruiter. Who Is Chase Young? A Defensive Star and Student of the Game Tagovailoa’s agent and doctors have also been vocal on his behalf, telling the news media that he will be fine by the time training camp starts - with the same strong, accurate arm that made him the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in quarterback rating last season - and that he is expected to make a full recovery. “He could go play a game tomorrow without question,” Dilfer said. Footage from his one-hour workout was sent to NFL teams, and parts of it were later posted online. To comply with government regulations, fewer than 10 people attended. After his pro scouting day on the Alabama campus was canceled because of the pandemic, Tagovailoa set up an alternative version at a private facility. He has also been using videos and social media to try to allay concerns teams may have. “If I had to go out there and perform the same way I did my sophomore year and my junior year, being 100% healthy, I feel like I’d be able to go out there and do that,” he told ESPN. The goal, Dilfer said, was to ensure that Tagovailoa could focus solely on getting back into shape.Īfter lying low for January and February, Tagovailoa began making appearances on ESPN to talk about his recovery and his draft preparation. Even his social media pages had to go quiet. Tagovailoa moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in January and started training with Trent Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback who now coaches a high school team.ĭilfer said their approach borrowed a philosophy from the movie “Rocky IV”: Like Rocky, who traveled to Ukraine to train without telling anyone, Tagovailoa was to keep his plan a secret. “When you have a history of injury, I think people are concerned. ![]() “Durability is as big as ability,” Michael Lombardi, a former general manager for the Cleveland Browns, said. He was cleared to begin football activities in March, but teams were unable to scout him in person because of travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.Īlthough this has affected all potential draft picks, it may be especially detrimental to Tagovailoa, because scouts have been unable to assess his progress in person.ĭuring his time at Alabama, he also fractured his left index finger, sprained his right knee and hurt both ankles, and his draft hopes may have been undermined by perceptions that he will always be at risk of injury. Once projected as a top pick in the NFL draft, Tua Tagovailoa ultimately became one of its biggest mysteries.Ī dynamic left-hander who won two national championships as Alabama’s quarterback, Tagovailoa has been recovering from a hip dislocation suffered in a November game. Who Is Tua Tagovailoa? A Great Mystery of the Draft “If Jordan gets to the right situation and everything clicks for him, we’re going to be sitting here in three or four years saying, ‘How did players X, Y and Z get drafted ahead of Jordan Love?'” ![]() “In hindsight, we’re all saying, ‘How the heck did Patrick Mahomes last to 12?'” Nagy said, referencing the pick the Kansas City Chiefs used to draft him. ![]()
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