Nick Saban’s comments to Jalen Hurts stark reality about Miami football

Alabama head coach Nick Saban told former quarterback Jalen Hurts to chose Oklahoma over the Maryland and Miami football programs when he entered the transfer portal in 2019. The Sooners having the most talent of the three is a stark reality for the Hurricanes.

When former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts entered the transfer portal in January 2019, he considered the Maryland, Oklahoma and Miami football programs as his next destination. Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban steered Hurts towards the Sooners because that’s where the best players are of the three programs.

Hurts considered Miami because his QB coach with Alabama, Dan Enos, was hired to be the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator. Former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was hired as the head coach at Maryland commencing with the 2019 season. The talent level at Oklahoma was the difference in Hurts’ decision.

Hurts made the right decision for his future. After throwing for 3,851 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions and running for a career-high 1,298 yards and another 20 TDs, Hurts was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Miami has work to do to land a transfer like Hurts.

The Hurricanes signed Houston graduate transfer D’Eriq King in January 2020. King will bring a similar skill set as Hurts. The difference is that King is transferring from a Group of Five school versus Hurts going from one college football blue blood to another. Hurts played in the college football playoff the last four seasons.

"“I said ‘Jalen, where do they have the best players?’ because he felt more comfortable going where he knew these guys…And he said ‘Well, I think they have the best players at Oklahoma.’ I said we just played them, and they have some pretty good players on offense too.“I said I’ve always told you quarterback is a hard position to play if you don’t have good players around you. So, if I was you, in order to create the most value because you have one year to do it, if you know you can be the starter there, go where they have the best players.That’s no disrespect to anybody else, the guys that worked here and did a great job here, it’s what’s best for you. That’s how you have to make this decision right now. He did it and I think did a great job for Oklahoma.”"

Saban turned out to be correct. Playing for Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, Hurts had the chance to learn from one of the best young offensive minds in football. Riley became the head coach of Oklahoma when he was 33 in 2017. The Sooners have advanced to the college football playoff in each of his three seasons.

Oklahoma finished third in the country in total offense and sixth in scoring offense in 2019. The Miami football team was 90th in scoring offense and 98th in total offense in 2019 under Enos. Maryland was 93rd and 109th in scoring and total offense in 2019. It’s obvious that Hurts made the right decision.

After the Miami offense faltered under former QB Jarren Williams and backup N’Kosi Perry in 2019, Enos was fired at the end of the 2019 season and replaced by spread guru Rhett Lashlee. Lashlee made changes to the offensive staff and helped recruit King. The hope is that the new offense will be impactful in 2019.