WATCH: Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Calvin Ridley share special moment in Alabama reunion
Alabama football producing NFL players under head coach Nick Saban is just like the ocean producing waves. They just keep coming and coming. It never ends. And it won’t until Saban retires. A few Alabama football alumni got to share a special moment together before the Falcons-Dolphins game on Sunday.
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got to have a quick moment with his former receiver at Alabama, Atlanta wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Ridley also got to say hello to another former wide receiver at Alabama, Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Check out the brief clip from below on FOX.
Forever linked from their college days
One of the best parts about college football is no matter what the player accomplishes in the pros, that college legacy is already set in stone. Tagovailoa made his mark at Alabama after he replaced Jalen Hurts in the 2018 the national championship game against Georgia.
Then he was dropping dimes like the one below to his old teammate Calvin Ridley, to bring the Crimson Tide back in the game. After the extra point, Georgia-Alabama was tied 20-20.
Then, Tagovailoa unleashed one of the most famous passes in college football history in overtime. He unleashed a devastating dagger to the end zone, where he found Alabama freshman receiver DeVonta Smith.
Tua pulls up around the 48 yard line and unleashes a hissing spiral to around the two-yard line, where he finds a streaking DeVonta Smith.
Watch the clip below.
A game-winner for the ages.
No matter what Tagovailoa does in the NFL, the throw above will be one that will be stamped in his Alabama legacy forever. For his entire career at Alabama, he finished with over 7,400 career passing yards during his two seasons there–ranking him third in school history.
He’s been the subject of trade rumors lately with the Miami Dolphins, so his NFL future is uncertain. There is lots of uncertainty surrounding his hip injury he suffered at Alabama, which many doctors fear could shorten his NFL career.
As for Jaylen Waddle, he and Tua have made a nice connection on the Dolphins during Waddle’s rookie year in the NFL. The former Alabama receiver has already hauled in 44 catches for 384 receiving yards, while bringing in three touchdown catches.
Since they played together in college, their excellent chemistry together has been noticeable from the start in the NFL. Chemistry is one of the most underrated parts of sports, and Tagovailoa and Waddle have excellent chemistry together, it’s easy to see.
Checkout the touchdown connection the two had against the Jaguars.
Calvin Ridley at Alabama
Calvin Ridley established himself as one of the premier route runners in all of college football during his time at Alabama and that has translated to the National Football League with the Falcons.
Once he hung up his cleats in Tuscaloosa, his name was among the greatest receivers in Crimson Tide history. He finished second in Alabama history in catches (224) and receiving touchdowns (19). The Florida native finished third all-time in Crimson Tide football history in receiving yards (2,781).
No matter where the players may go in life, they’ll always have their bond formed at Alabama. It’s just another thing that makes college football so very great.