When speaking to a group of seventh- and eighth-graders in his native Hawaii Thursday, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa revealed he considered transferring from Alabama before playing in January’s national championship game.
"Even throughout my football season, I wasn't the starter," Tagovailoa said, according to a report by Hawaii News Now. "I wanted to leave the school. So I told myself if I didn't play in the last game, which was the national championship game, I would transfer out.
"I called my dad and asked him if my offer to the University of Southern California was still available. I wanted to leave. I told my dad I wanted to go to a school where I thought it'd be easier for me and wouldn't challenge me so much...
“If I gave in, I don't think I would have seen the end blessing of where I am now."
With Alabama trailing 13-0 at halftime, the true-freshman Tagovailoa replaced starting quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second half and passed for three touchdowns in the 26-23 overtime victory.
- Related: Photos from the UGA-Alabama national championship game
