OT: As expected, Jalen Hurts is transferring away from Alabama
I have a hard time thinking classy thoughts about any Alabama player, since I want them all to lose, but Hurts handled his situation as well as one could imagine. I wish him well.
Specifically, I wish him well somewhere that doesn't affect us. I could honestly see Penn State making a run at him, he'd play well in McSorley's role. Hopefully Frames isn't smart enough to think of this.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:52 PM ^
I would imagine the fact that he was on track to graduate in December (and thus allowing him to go wherever he wanted without restriction) was as big a factor as any in his decision to stay.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:56 PM ^
He didn't lose a year of eligibility. He showed high character and still made some huge plays, most notably his big come back against Georgia. Hurts is very well-positioned.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:23 PM ^
FAU to be reunited with Lane Kiffen?
January 9th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
Ooh yeah Penn State would actually be pretty cool to see. I'm thinking he stays in the south. Auburn could use him..
January 9th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
Oklahoma is my guess. Assuming Murray forgo's his last season.
January 9th, 2019 at 4:30 PM ^
I'm surprised Fields didn't transfer there.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:30 PM ^
I could see him going to Maryland with Locksley.
January 9th, 2019 at 3:08 PM ^
That would be awesome.
Perhaps not for us, though.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
I'd like to see Syracuse. He would run all over the place in Dino's offense.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:34 PM ^
I don't agree with the Hurts Narrative. Old guys think he stuck around, fought through it, and was rewarded. I say in 99 out of 100 simulations Tua doesn't get hurt in the SEC Championship game and we never hear of him again.
Hurts stayed because he was going to graduate this year and knew that. So get a degree, continue to learn from a great (if satanic) coaching staff, and take the 2% chance you can win the job. That's as opposed to transferring and sitting, screwing up credits towards a degree, not being an Alabama grad, and the like. Fine. He's sitting either way so it doesn't matter.
But if that was his senior the great probability was that we would have never heard his name again. That's the lesson. Transfer, kids.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
You're correct that if he graduated this year (is that confirmed that he'll be a grad transfer?), it was an easier decision to stay and not have to take a redshirt year, since he'd be sitting this year regardless. Might have been a little bit of a gamble on his part though, because he's only going to have a fall camp to try to win a job, whereas, he'd have had that redshirt season to get comfortable in a new offense and potentially have a better chance to win the 2019 job.
I'm not really sure what you mean by never hear of him again, though? Do you mean that if he had graduated last year and redshirted this season, he wouldn't have played again? I'm not sure I agree with that. Depending on where he goes, he'll have a decent shot to start, whether he left last year or now.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:50 PM ^
Sorry, I should have been more clear: never would have heard from him at Alabama again. He would never have gone in and saved the day. Tua wins it, and everyone is like "Oh yeah Jalen Hurts used to play for Alabama"
January 9th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
I'm not sure I see your problem with the "old guys" Hurts narrative. All of it is true. He did stick around. He did win the Georgia game. He also got a degree and also learned from probably the best staff in the country.
You're basically implying that he stuck around for selfish reasons. The problem is that, all along, he showed great character. He supported Tua in last year's championship game, competed this spring, and never once pouted. He could have easily gone to sit on the bench last NC but instead he was the first to congratulate Tua. You can't take that away from Hurt, even if he did benefit from being at Bama along the way.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
Here is my list of possibilities
1. UH- his family is in Houston and with new a coach that likes to spin it and be an against the grain guy he could do some serious damage in the G5 area plus
2. Maryland- I think this is a higher % chance than people think. Would be a HUGE get for MO.
3. UCLA- MDT has one season under him in High School, he did well at the Elite 11 comp but they all questioned if he had enough time under center in game time situations. Kelly needs to at least get the ship moving in the right direction and could with Hurts. Hurts doesn't need to go win chips, he needs to show the NFL he isn't a "system" guy and can ball anywhere. THAT would be better than trying to get to a potential already almost conference championship contender.
PSU has some depth at QB that have serious potential and I think they are in rebuild mode.
Hell maybe WVU is a consideration. They have some decent talent there too
January 9th, 2019 at 8:11 PM ^
Good list - I didn't think about the Houston connection.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:51 PM ^
Rich Rodriguez could use veteran QB at Mississippi.
January 9th, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
Dana Holgorsen could use a new QB.
January 9th, 2019 at 3:08 PM ^
Hurts to OSU to play in 2019. Fields to OSU to play in 2020.
January 9th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
He should go to Army.
They could just overlook that whole cadet thing for once.
January 9th, 2019 at 3:21 PM ^
That would be...interesting.
January 9th, 2019 at 4:57 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing as I read through all these comments! Army's QB (Hopkins) has a similar skill set as Hurts-- obviously Hurts is a far better talent-- it'd be really interesting to see how good Army could be next season with a talent like Hurts. Although, maybe he could wait until 2020 after we play them. He could spend next year at the prep school and suit up for USMA the following year.
Hurts already got a haircut... maybe he's thinking the same thing!
January 9th, 2019 at 3:29 PM ^
Seems like a good kid. Hope he’s successful wherever he goes.
Will be a lot of schools clamoring to enlist his services.
January 9th, 2019 at 8:09 PM ^
He would do well at Michigan.
January 9th, 2019 at 4:10 PM ^
I'd be curious to see where he does end up. I am sure he'd be welcomed almost anywhere, after all. That said, it would be chuckleworthy to see him stay in the SEC West.
January 9th, 2019 at 4:21 PM ^
I think if he winds up in the B1G it would be more likely at Maryland as Locksley worked at Bama the past two years. IMO that's a real possibility. But, he's also originally from TX so TCU & Houston seem more likely landing spots, but with Sumlin at Arizona now I could also see that.
January 9th, 2019 at 4:34 PM ^
Hurts to MSU
January 9th, 2019 at 4:36 PM ^
Even if he did go to PSU, Frames would manage to mess that up somehow.
January 9th, 2019 at 8:04 PM ^
Hope he ends up at auburn and burns Bama in the iron bowl
January 9th, 2019 at 8:10 PM ^
That would be some payback.
January 9th, 2019 at 8:09 PM ^
Hurts seems to be a class guy - at least the way he handled this year.
January 9th, 2019 at 8:18 PM ^
All this Bama hate. Meanwhile Someone got caught drugged. As a young man, Nick treated me well.
January 9th, 2019 at 8:44 PM ^
Shuda did it last year. He didn't read the blaringly obvious, writ in tall letters, handwriting on the wall.
January 10th, 2019 at 9:52 AM ^
Word is Miami (YTM) is the spot