Report: Former Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa to declare for 2024 NFL Draft
Former Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is declaring for the 2024 NFL draft, according to a report from Pete Thamel.
Tagovailoa had entered the transfer portal and was seeking a waiver to play college football this year, but according to Thamel, the waiver has been denied. He started his career at Alabama. Playing five games for the Crimson Tide instead of four in 2019 cost him a year of eligibility.
“Sources: Former Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa’s waiver for an additional year of eligibility has been denied. This is despite Nick Saban and Alabama writing a strong plea to the NCAA in his support. Tagovailoa will begin training for the upcoming NFL Draft,” Thamel posted on Twitter.
Taulia Tagovailoa is the younger brother of Dolphins quarterback and former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa.
Taulia started his career at Alabama in 2019, before transferring to Maryland. He spent four seasons playing for the Terrapins and has already used his COVID year. He entered the transfer portal in early January in hopes of receiving a waiver.
At the time, he spoke with Pete Thamel about his decision to enter the portal and why he believed he should receive a waiver.
“Spoke to former Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa today about entering the NCAA transfer portal,” Thamel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “With his eligibility technically expired, he’s filed for a re-instatement waiver with the NCAA on Thursday for an extra year of eligibility.
“Tagovailoa played in five games as the third-string quarterback at Alabama in 2019, playing just two snaps in his fifth and final game 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.”
Tagovailoa only appeared in five games in his lone season at Alabama. The former four-star prospect finished 9-of-12 passing for 100 yards in his limited time on the field.
Tagovailoa did not attempt a pass in his final game with the Crimson Tide. He simply handed the ball off once before kneeling it to run out the clock against Mississippi State. Tagovailoa explained his complicated decision to sacrifice his redshirt during his true freshman season.
“Honestly, if I could do it again, hopefully my brother doesn’t get injured and I’m not in that emotional state where I want to play in the game,” Tagovailoa said, per Thamel. “If I got to do it over again, I wouldn’t have played in the game.
“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.”
In four seasons at Maryland, Tagovailoa amassed 1,256 yards passing and 76 touchdowns, both of which rank him first in program history. He directed the team to a 22-16 record over the past three seasons and was named second team All-Big Ten in 2022.
This year, Tagovailoa led the Big Ten with 3,377 yards passing to go along with 25 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. The Terrapins finished 8-5, beating Auburn in the Music City Bowl.
More on the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.
Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.
The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.
To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.
Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.
The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.