What it would take for Miami football adding transfer QB Taulia Tagovailoa
Entering his sixth season of college football Taulia Tagovailoa entered the transfer portal on Friday. The desire for Tagovailoa to transfer after four seasons at Maryland preceded by one season with Alabama is complicated. Before Tagovailoa transfers to the Miami football program or somewhere else he will need an NCAA waiver.
Two snaps cost Tagovailoa an extra year of eligibility. Tagovailoa took two snaps in two separate games during his true freshman season at Alabama in 2019 as a way to honor his injured brother. After Tua Tagovailoa left for the NFL Draft and the Dolphins, Taulia transferred to Maryland ahead of the 2020 season.
Tagovailoa holds nearly every Maryland career passing record. In four seasons with the Terrapins, Tagovailoa completed 955 passes in 1,424 attempts for 67.1 percent, 11,256 yards, 7.9 yards per attempt, 76 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. He is also the all-time leading passer in Big 10 history.
It has been widely reported that Miami is looking for an experienced transfer QB. Miami has passed up on multiple highly ranked QBs who have entered the transfer portal. The Hurricanes appeared to be all in for Washington State transfer QB Cam Ward. Ward announced his intention to enter the NFL Draft on Monday.
“Coach asked me if I wanted to go in. Of course I wanted to go in and play for my brother. And that’s what happened.” The maximum threshold for redshirting is playing in four games, so those two snaps ultimately cost him a shot at playing in 2024.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 5, 2024
Tagovailoa played in five games as the third-string quarterback at Alabama in 2019, playing just two snaps at Mississippi State. He entered during the final snaps of a 38-7 win as a way to honor his brother, Tua, who suffered a severe hip injury.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 5, 2024
Miami currently has redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown, sophomore Emory Williams and 2024 signee Judd Anderson entering the 2024 offseason. It is not known if Williams will be ready for spring practice after suffering a compound arm fracture in November against Florida State.
Pete Thamel of ESPN initially reported that Tagovailoa had applied with the NCAA for a waiver in a post on X that has since been deleted. Tagovailoa played in five games in 2019. Two of those games were each two snaps. Players can play four games plus a bowl game to maintain a redshirt.
The rule to maintain a redshirt was previously four games total. Tagovailoa has to hope the NCAA views his situation as playing to honor his brother and that the five 2019 games he played in are equivalent to a player appearing in five games plus a bowl game now. There has not been an indication if Miami would be interested.
What's next for Miami football with a transfer quarterback?. What's next for Miami football with a transfer quarterback?. dark. Next
Several reports have stated that Tagovailoa's family would prefer him to transfer to Miami to play in the same city as Tua. A great story will not influence the NCAA's decision. Tua and Taulia quarterbacking teams at Hard Rock Stadium simultaneously would create a lot of buzz nationally.