Taulia Tagovailoa is having another brilliant high school football season. It’s just not happening in Hawaii like the last two.
According to al.com, Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,144 yards, 19 touchdowns and and only three interceptions in his junior season for Thompson High of Alabaster, Ala.
Tualia is the younger brother of Tua Tagovailoa, the reigning Honolulu Star-Advertiser offensive player of the year who is now playing in college for No. 1 Alabama.
Taulia now has more yards in his high school career than Tua did in his three varsity seasons at Saint Louis. Tua is Hawaii’s all-time passing yardage leader with 8,158 yards. In his two seasons at Kapolei, Taulia threw for 6,703 yards and 64 TDs, and is now up to 8,847 yards and 83 TDs in his career with three regular-season games and playoffs — and his whole senior season — remaining.
In a 40-17 win over Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.) on Friday, Taulia’s Warriors improved to 7-0 and clinched their first playoff spot since 2006.
Taulia is playing in Alabama because his family moved there to be able to watch Tua in action with the Crimson Tide (7-0). Tua, a freshman, has played in five of Alabama’s games as a backup to sophomore Jalen Hurts and has thrown for 251 yards and four TDs with no interceptions.
Thompson High is ranked No. 65 in the MaxPreps computer rankings. Saint Louis, Hawaii’s top-ranked team, is No. 25 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 expert rankings and No. 15 in the computer version.
Green Bay could use a QB 😛
Still rolling strong! Way to go, Taulia!
Tua should’ve stayed in Hawaii and sling the rock here, over there he’s clearly a backup, he can’t beat out that QB! Transfer while you can and commence plan B, while he still can! Unless he is liking to be a backup QB?! I hate parents that force their kids to try to go to schools where they won’t play much!
Always give our kids the best chance to become better. Tua needed to go to a big program because he needed to test his skills with higher level competition than what he would get playing at UH. It’s not about being a backup at a big program but knowing he will get to play in a year or two and will show that he is legit and will go on to bigger and better things. Keep it up Tua. You make us all proud, even this Red Raider for Life.
HBoy it don’t matter how much skill you have if your not playing! That’s what’s happening here, and UH is a DI not a JC or DIII, anytime you compete against another DI weather it’s a SEC, PAC-12, etc. YOU are competing. it’s sad a talent like Tua’s is made a backup to a faster more stronger and experienced QB, and who wants to wait 2 more seasons before he gets his 1 season to perform? Comeback UH and become a bigger hometown hero, League will find those who play not backing up!
Tua and his family mmade the right decision, knowing full well that he may not start, but to be the best you have to play the best. Tua’s chance will come because Hurts is a good running QB but is suspect passing. Coach Saban knows what he’s doing and is easing Tua in bringing him along fine. I’ll tell you what, Hurts is not sleeping well these days because Tua is breathing down his neck and it will probably take one bad game to lose his starting job. Just listen to the commentators, they have only high praises for Tua, and from what I saw, that quick release, that accuracy, strong arm, scramble, all he needs now is experience!
Tom Brady only had one full year as a starter at Michigan. Another example is the #2 draft pick this year bears QB mitch he only started one year at NC. I think tua made a good decision going to Alabama. He’s a young man of faith. whatsoever his path may be at Alabama I know tua will leave it in God’s hands!!! Praise the Lord.
@playa, you’re friken clueless.
Maybe it’s a good thing. Hard to get hurt on the bench. So the longevity of his playing career could be extended with his limited play time the next year or so?
@playa: Com-on man, give us a break! What parent in their right mind would want their son to play for UH when Alabama offered Tua a scholarship. It’s like turning down a scholarship from St Louis and you recommending him to playi for Kalani or Waialua. It’s all about playing for a winning tradition, just like Mariota playing for Oregon instead of UH. It takes time to learn a new system especially at the college level and Tua needs to learn and get better. He’s not warming the bench and has been getting a lot of playing time. He’s doing great and I wish him the best because he knows that he won’t start especially if Hurts is starting. BTW, if you had a talented son, would you send him to UH or Alabama? LOL!
Look at every draft for the last 10 years. QBs from small or perceived smaller colleges get noticed and drafted every year. Not to say he should have gone to UH but why bama? Why sit behind Hurts for 3 years when he could’ve gone to somewhere like usc and started next year or UCLA and started next year after Rosen leaves. Hurts is not leaving early to the NFL. I disagree that bama was the best choice. 2016 Wents got drafted #2 from North Dakota State, 2017 #Trubisky fron UNC went #2 and Mahomes from TTech went #10. These are schools in the top 25 year after year but somehow their QBs got drafted ahead of Watson from clemson and Kizer from Notre Dame. And bama QBs recently have sucked in the NFL.
@playa, why in thee hell would a talent like Tua transfer to UH. For your satisfaction? Homers man, the most selfish type of fan. I remember Mariota being a backup in high school, worked out well for him. I’m a believer of go to where you fit in, I wasn’t happy with Tua going to Bama with their qb history in the NFL. But who the hell am I lol. . . Just support the local kids maam/sir. UH? You silly rabbit
Congrats to Taulia. As far as Tua goes, if he wants College rings, then Alabama is it. If he’s satisfied with sitting on the bench then fine. Jalen Hurt is not a high draft qb. He will play till his senior year. Bama will also recruit top qbs this year and every year. Tua is a great quarterback. One of Sabans tricks is to recruit qbs that could beat him. Tua at Texas A&M would beat him. But not at UH, NOOOOO. Look at MILTON at UCF. Impact right away with possible HEISMAN looks in 2 years! But also MILTON will get looks from the pros.
Itiswhatitis knows exactly what I’m saying, and no one in their right mind wants to sit the bench to play for 1 season, you must have been bench warmers if that’s ok in your books! And I’ll tell you what, There is nothing wrong being a local hero, this is where he developed his talent in our back yards of beach parks and stadium. And if he’s to start why not UH, Jimmy Chang lit it up here Alpha, and that’s where the team is lacking of, and Tua’s strong leadership qualities that would directly effect not only the Personel on the team but the future recruits who would love to catch 4-5 balls from this top gun! Hell yeah if my son is getting a offer to UH, USC, UNLV, BYU, CU, I’m definitely advocating for him to stay because he will definitely play here in Paradise! The competition will fly here or we fly to it. The key here people is playing time, and he’s only getting in after Hurts runs the score up to 35+ points, and if you think he’ll get in when it’s down to the wire with Hurts still healthy and playing, forget about it he’s just got the best view of the game on the sideline right next to the HC. He will always be a back up to Hurts! I hate benchwarmers mentality like alphas, northshore, shmuck, ptl, and whyy!
@playa, Paradise? Competition? Playing time? And the best one Timmy Chang? What competition do you speak of? UH has been warm up games for USC, Bama, Michigan, Florida etc. Those weren’t even close, UH only had one good year and then embarrassed at the Sugar bowl. Homer mentality like the one you have is very selfish. You offer a kid hometown hero status just so your favorite college benefits? Who knows why he chose Bama for college, but no need to take it personal lol. And please, don’t be a football recruiter for UH, cause if that’s all the reasons you have to offer a recruit none of the boys will stay home. . . Timmy Chang (hahahah), he sure did light it up here, but that was it. I love homer mentality like playahatersanonymous.
Well, when you’re a 5 star athlete you tend to over look a 1star school that’s in a 1 Star conference that plays other 1 star apponents. Good for you Tua for having high expectations for yourself. As an athlete at your level it’s not about being handed the starting position it’s about competing for it at the highest level.
Some people reach for the stars….. Some just gaze at it.
It doesn’t matter what school you go to. It’s being in the right situation at the right time. More then half of the starting Qb in the pros came from colleges outside of the power 5. You have to be in an offense that will give you the best opportunity to showcase your skills. Look and Milton central Florida wasn’t even good till he got there with the new coaches. Look at the kid from Wyoming who’s projected to be a first round pick. The school doesn’t mean anything when it comes to a Qb .
Good for the local boyz balling up here in the Mainland. I now follow both UCF (Milton) and Bama (Tua) and are very proud of all the Hawaiian Kids representing the 808 (Check out Miltons helmet with the 808 tag). Back home, you support your school, your hometown, but when the boyz leave the Rock, got to support them no matter what, and this coming from a RR4L c/o 87.
@playa… You bring up a good point. Are any local boyz playing. I mean impact player playing at UH? Once in a while they grab a top player in Hawaii and you don’t hear of them again. Look at that Waianae lineman (some of that is him not being disciplined). But who’s looking out for that kid. If he and Timoteo went to a big time school you can bet someone like an academic advisor is on their case making sure everything is done. They wanted to stay home and now where are they?
Back to Taulia, after a season with thompson HS football and winning, he will except a scholarship from StLoius and finish his senior year. Thompson ranked44 ,st.Louis 25. StL.Will not have quarterback for 18. If st.Louis wins hawaii out they would rank 20th. June Jones will broker the deal
@Jason. That’s great for stl, but how does that benefit Taulia? Another homer. . .
Alfa, it’s not about Tau, it’s about St.Louis. lol.
@Jason. Spoken like a true homer. . . Selfish!!!! STL must be that junk to be crawling back to the Tagovailoa family to bring their son back just to win football games. Education certainly not 1st lmao. . . .
I’m sure STL is prestigious school with proud alumni. But when yoi have an ignorant few like @Jason naks (assuming he is one) that puts the program ahead of a students future then yea, A total waste of mommy and daddy’s money. . . Can’t even spell “Alpha”. . .
I wouldn’t count St. Louis not having a Qb next year. I’m pretty sure you all counted them out of having a Qb this year when Tua left and look what happened.
There is some much chatter going on about Taulia coming back next year. I know they have several good backups in the wings and they also have a kid that left Damien and sat out this year that supposed to be good too. Kind of crappy for those kids if it is true.
Recruit dis, I don’t think anyone counted StL. out for this year because 1. They are the Defending Champs. 2. And They have a killer D. Also Cordeiro has been injury free while Yam and Barber have been banged up.
Coach c…. so you saying you thought after tua left they would be averaging more points then they did last year. I don’t think anyone gave that Qb a chance till he proved everybody wrong. Yes he’s injury free but his play making abilities and doing this all season with no running game. I’m just saying don’t count them out next year they’ll have a Qb ready.
Tua an his bro will be productive too the Crimson tide nation the next several years, Coach Sabin knows inside of him to play tua as they roll up the score to get more experience for this upcoming season it’ll be an awesome year for tua an company! Tua knows how to get out of the pocket an scramble he ran all those plays when he played for coach Lee’s!