And the Heisman will go Tua… Tagavailoa

Brandon Fowlis, staff writer

Tua Tagovailoa will be the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner. 

Six weeks into the college football season, Tagovailoa has been nothing but exceptional. The Alabama quarterback has been near perfect throwing the ball accounting for 2,011 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and one interception, a completion percentage of 73.6 and a QBR of 96.1. On the ground Tagovailoa has added two touchdowns. Alabama opened up the season with a non-conference win against Duke winning 42-3. Tagovailoa racked up 336 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in just three quarters, completing 26 of 31 passes and giving him a completion percentage of 84%. 

One week later Tagovailoa and the Tide picked up where they left off, beating New Mexico State 62-10. Tagovailoa threw for 227 yards and 3 passing touchdowns, completing 66% of his attempts. Tagovailoa also managed to find the end zone for a fourth time on a 25 yard run. All his stats coming in just the first half as he played one series before handing over to Mac Jones in the second half.

A week later Tagovailoa had a career day against South Carolina in a 47-23 win over their first conference opponent. Tagovailoa threw for a career best 444 yards and tied his personal best with five touchdown passes. Tagovailoa finished the game completing 28 of 36 passing attempts. 

One week later Tagovailoa passed for 293 yards and five touchdowns in just three quarters as Alabama rolled to a 49-7 victory over Southern Miss. Once again Tagovailoa was near perfect, completing 17 of 21 passes for a completion percentage of 80%.

After two weeks of five passing touchdowns no one thought Tagovailoa could do better. Tagovailoa racked up 418 yards through the air, six of which found the end zone. Five of Tagovailoa’s six touchdowns came from junior receiver DeVonta Smith who also had a career day. Alabama’s impressive win got them moved up to number one in the AP poll as they jumped the defending national champion Clemson.

Two weeks later Bama handled Texas A&M, their first ranked opponent of the season. Tagovailoa threw for four touchdowns and 293 yards completing 21 of 34 passes. Tagovailoa ended his campaign of no interceptions after he was intercepted in the end zone on an attempt to reach Jerry Jeudy.

Tagovailoa has six more games before he finishes off the regular season. Alabama’s remaining schedule consists of Tennessee, Arkansas, #2 LSU, in what has the potential to be the game of the year, Mississippi St, Western Carolina, and rival #11 Auburn. Tagovailoa is on track to throw for 54 touchdowns, a record breaking stat and over four thousand passing yards. Tagovailoa will be tested against tougher opponents like LSU, Auburn and even Mississippi St., not to mention the possibility of playing top ten teams Florida and Georgia in the SEC championship. 

If Tagovailoa continues to put up phenomenal numbers against the remaining half of the schedule he could very easily lock up the Heisman trophy.