Part 1: The Beginning
Jalen Alexander Hurts was born on August 7, 1998, in Channelview, Texas, attending the aptly named Channelview High School. Ever since Jalen was a kid, it was obvious how gifted he was as an athlete. He played football at Channelview High, where his father, Averion Hurts, coached. Hurts would prove himself a star on the gridiron, passing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for over 1,000, with 51 total touchdowns as a senior en route to being named the District 21-6A MVP and ranking as one of the top dual-threat QBs in his recruiting class.
Outside of football, Jalen was a passionate, hardworking young athlete. He competed in powerlifting, being able to squat 500 pounds while only in High School, even becoming a regional finalist in his weight class. There is no doubt that this relentless work ethic came from both his father and brother, both named Averion. As both his father, coach, and mentor, Averion Sr. tried to instill what he believed to be the keys for success in Jalen: Lessons like keeping family close, hard work, and never giving up. These values propelled Jalen through both his personal and football life. The person Jalen most looked up to, however, was his brother Averion Jr. Jalen idolized his brother when it came to football. “Whatever I was doing, Jalen was right there behind me. And that kind of remained a constant factor growing up.”[1] Noted Averion Jr. Out of high school, Jalen would be heavily recruited by multiple major schools, including Texas A&M. However, he would instead choose to play at the University of Alabama, a monumental step in what soon would become a dramatic and successful college career.
Part 2: A Freshman like no other
Jalen Hurts would play as a true freshman at Alabama, and break records while doing so. In his first game as Bama’s signal-caller (and the school’s second overall), Hurts became the first true freshman to start as the Tide’s starting QB since Vince Sutton 34 years prior. Hurts would go on to pass for 2780 yards and 23 touchdowns in his 15 games, along with 954 yards and 13 touchdowns to boot. His rushing yardage broke the Alabama single-season record by over 150 yards. In fact, Hurts broke so many records that it might just be better to list them out.[2]
- Alabama single-season TD record (36)
- First QB under Nick Saban to rush for 11+ TDs
- First Alabama QB to pass for 300+ and rush for 100+ yards in a single game
- First Alabama QB to rush for 120+ yards in multiple games
- Iron bowl completion percentage record (75%)
That’s not to mention his numerous accolades:
- Perfect regular season
- Manning award finalist (top college QB)
- SEC Championship
- SEC player of the year
- SEC Freshman of the year
- Numerous All-American recognitions
Hurts truly redefined what true freshmen could do. However, he fell just short of the goal. In the National Championship against Clemson, Hurts put up a dismal 13-31[3] stat line with his second-lowest Passer Rating at 88.1. Even with a sour ending, Jalen Hurts’ freshman campaign will go down in history as one of if not the best in Alabama’s, and even college football’s existence. That’s not to say Hurts didn’t have his issues. The true freshman was still incredibly raw as a passer, and while his legs helped him out in most situations, when that option was taken away, he couldn’t get it done with only his arm. His loss in the Natty highlighted that, as Hurts was forced to pass 31 times against a strong Clemson defense. This problem would persist throughout Hurts’ time at Alabama, where passing in big moments would lead to Jalen’s highest and lowest points in his college career.
Part 3: We are going to fight
Jalen Hurts would start the 2017 NCAAF season as Alabama’s young rising phenom, eyeing a shot at redemption for the National championship. Hurts’ work ethic and improvement as a QB would lead to another great regular season as Alabama’s signal-caller. Hurts would accumulate over 2000 yards in his 15 games, but with a noticeable increase in his efficiency, boasting a 150.2 passer rating, 11 points higher than his freshman campaign. This increase in efficiency would also be paired with a somewhat ridiculous 17-1 TD/INT ratio, along with more dominance on the ground with 800+ rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Hurts would again lead the tide to the college football playoffs with a record of 11-1 in the regular season. He would start these playoffs with a promising win against last year’s National Champion, Clemson, 16-24. However, what seemed to be the chance for true redemption and a shot to prove himself as Bama’s true number 1 QB in his second National championship game would end up becoming the lowest point in Jalen Hurts’ career.
Halfway through the National Championship game, things were looking bleak for Alabama. The Crimson Tide were down 13-0, and they couldn’t seem to get anything going offensively. Jalen Hurts was only 3-for-8 passing for a measly 21 yards, and he couldn’t seem to make throws anywhere with any effectiveness. Such circumstances forced Nick Saban to allow young backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to enter the game in place of Hurts. Tua had seen very limited action in his college career so far, seeing his most time in a 56-0 blowout vs Mercer in which Jalen Hurts completed 7/7 passes for 180 yards and 3 TDs. However, Tua clearly showed enough in his time for the Alabama coaching staff to believe in his ability to effectively throw the ball against Georgia’s defense. Tua ended up being the answer Saban was looking for, as the backup freshman led a comeback that ended in Alabama winning the National Championship 26-23 in an overtime thriller. Hurts stayed supportive and calm on the surface, saying,
“I’m a competitor and I would’ve loved to come back and bring the team back like I’d done many times before. But it happened the way it did, and we were national champions at the end of it. Put emotions to the side. I’m not a robot, but you (grow) out of yourself and into the team. Me being emotional, what good would that have done to the guys around me? The joy of being able to hold up a national championship trophy and achieve that goal as a team regardless of how I got there, it’s a joyful moment.”[4]
However, we would later learn this was not the full truth. Jalen knew that his benching could spell the beginning of the end for him at Alabama, a tough thing to stomach for any young athlete. Jalen was having his dreams that he worked so hard to make reality crumble in front of his eyes, and couldn’t understand what he did wrong. A time after the benching, Hurts would open up about the moments directly after it occurred, in which he let out his true emotions.
“I’m in my parent’s — my mom’s and dad’s — arms crying. I look up at my dad and said ‘What are we going to do now?’
“He told me, he looked me in my eyes and said, ‘We are going to fight.’”[5]
Part 4: Crimson Redemption
Unfortunately for Jalen, it turned out Tua Tagovailoa was far from a flash in the pan. Hurts would lose the offseason battle for the starting position at Alabama and open his junior season as a backup. Many thought Jalen Hurts would transfer his junior season, but he didn’t. Hurts remained driven to be the best teammate he could be and support his teammates. Hurts was the first man to cheer for a TD on the sideline, and always seemed upbeat and energetic, adding life to the Crimson Tide even while off the field. Instead of choosing the easy path and simply leaving for greener pastures, Hurts stuck it out with his team, demonstrating his truly unmatched character. This loyalty to his team and teammates would cement him as an Alabama legend for more than just his character. Even with his job taken, Jalen never ceased working, and people noticed.
“He’s been locked in. It’s not easy when somebody takes your job that you’ve had for two years. But I don’t think that had a super effect on him. Jalen is even-keeled. He just keeps plugging along. … I love watching Jalen. Whatever happens, he’s just a straight line.” – Alabama QB Mac Jones [6]
Jalen Hurts himself knew that if he wanted a shot at redemption, he would have to work tirelessly at it. Alabama running back Josh Jacobs noted; “From the day that he didn’t start, he always said there would be a time when he had to make a play…”[7]
That time came, and it was once again time for Hurts to remedy past failures. In the SEC championship vs. Georgia, Tua Tagovailoa would go down with an injury in the 4th quarter while the Crimson Tide trailed by 7. At this moment, Hurts was called in to try to make an improbable comeback, the opposite from the year prior. Jalen did not falter. Hurts would pass for 82 yards and a touchdown, along with another on the ground, leading Alabama to an incredible come from behind victory to secure the Crimson Tide’s spot in the college football playoffs. This feat earned the respect of Alabama players, coaches, and fans alike. Hurts had truly redeemed himself in both his eyes and everyone else’s. Ultimately, Alabama would fall in the National Championship to Clemson, 44-16. The end of the 2018 season would leave Jalen Hurts at a crossroads. If he wanted a shot at the starting job, he would have to transfer schools. Plenty of options were on the table, but going to Oklahoma was a “No-Brainer” for all involved. Even Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban recommended Jalen to go to Oklahoma over numerous other schools.[8] After the transfer, the pressure was at an all-time high for Jalen. 2019 had to be the year the now 21-year-old proved himself if he wanted a shot to compete at the NFL level. Luckily, the Sooners provided the perfect situation to make that happen.
Part 5: Sooner Rather than Later
Hurts would start for an Oklahoma team coming off two Heisman-winning Quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Plenty of questions surrounded Hurts’ ability to progress as a passer when he joined the Sooners, but nobody could predict the radical improvement that came in Lincoln Riley’s innovative offense. Hurts would have his best collegiate season by a mile in 2019, smashing his career-high in passing by 1000 yards, throwing another career-high 32 touchdowns to only 8 ints, and a Big 12 leading 69.7 percent completion percentage. Hurts’ improved passing didn’t limit his rushing ability, either. Hurts had his best rushing season with the Sooners, racking up 18 touchdowns and 1200 yards on the ground, putting him only behind Joe Burrow in total touchdowns for a player that year. Jalen’s fantastic season led the Sooners to an 11-1 regular season record as well as a Big 12 championship win VS. Baylor. Oklahoma would eventually fall to the future national championship-winning LSU Tigers in the peach bowl, but by all accounts, the season was a massive success. Hurts would be recognized for his efforts when he came 2nd in Heisman Voting behind Joe Burrow.
After his 2019 outing, Hurts solidified himself as a QB to watch in the NFL draft. While most didn’t place him in the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the class, he certainly drew eyes for his rapid improvement as a passer and freakish athletic ability. Questions still flew. “How much of Hurts’ progress was due to the OU system?” “Does Hurts have the ability to be a multi-dimensional passer?” and “Will Hurts’ style of play translate to the NFL level?” were all (valid) questions heading into the draft. While Hurts was a better passer than he was before, his abilities were still very raw compared to the top QBs in the class. What set Jalen apart was, and always had been, his ability on the ground. Hurts was receiving buzz ranging from day-3 all the way to the second round, and the truth was, nobody really knew where he was going to go. Jalen certainly helped his stock with a very impressive Senior Bowl and Combine showing, where questions of arm strength pretty much fell by the wayside. Character was another strength teams noted when interviewing Hurts, and could have been a factor in the boosting of his image around the league. Eventually, draft weekend rolled around, and people were still in the dark around where the Heisman runner-up would land. However, nobody could have guessed what happened on draft night. Nobody except Howie Roseman, that is.
Part 6: Quarterback Factory
“The Eagles drafted WHO?!”
Such was the general consensus around the Philadelphia Eagles’ second-round pick in 2020. Instead of filling a need at corner, linebacker, or numerous other positions, the Eagles selected quarterback Jalen Hurts. This move was widely criticized by the media and fans alike, and at that point, it seemed like for good reason. The Eagles had just signed their assumed franchise quarterback Carson Wentz to a 4-year 100+ Million-dollar contract, putting him among the elite in the NFL in terms of salary. When asked about the reasoning behind the pick, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman gave the now Iconic and commonly made fun of quote:
“We want to be a quarterback factory.”
Of course, rumors and leaks came out that suggested the Eagles instead wanted to use Hurts not just as a backup, but as a “Taysom Hill on steroids”[9], or as a load manager/trick play specialist for the QB room. With Hurts athleticism and versatility, it certainly wasn’t as absurd as it sounded, but spending a second-round pick on something like that isn’t a great allocation of resources, especially for an Eagles team with hopes of winning the division and making a playoff run in 2020. Either way, the deed was done. Hurts was now the number 2 QB on the Eagles depth chart, and all signs pointed to it staying that way as the season grew nearer. That’s not to say Hurts didn’t catch the eye of teammates, however. Eagles veteran Jalen Mills later noted work ethic and preparation, even when the QB job was obviously not his.
“…(Hurts) was preparing himself to where, if there ever was a moment where he got into the game, he wasn’t the guy who was out there to be like, ‘Okay, Carson’s the starter, I’m just out here to be the backup, three to four plays a game I’m going to run the read option, run the ball.’ It was, ‘No, I’m preparing myself to be the starting quarterback, to make all of these throws.'”[10]
The regular season was almost there, and soon the Eagles fanbase shifted their focus from the second-round pick to see if the team could make it back to the playoffs. However, the season wouldn’t go as planned for Philly, and Jalen Hurts would soon become the center of a collapse the likes of which are rarely seen in the sports world.
Part 7: It all Hurts
2020 sucked. Not just because of the worldwide pandemic that altered the lives of so many, but also because the Philadelphia Eagles had a really hard time winning football games. For a team that entered the season with expectations of a High-Flying offense led by star quarterback Carson Wentz, they really couldn’t have done any worse. As all Philly fans probably remember, Wentz, whether you blame it on him or not, regressed to what could be called the worst QB in the league in 2020. While the Eagles had their fair share of offensive play calling ineptitude and injuries, the outing Wentz and the Birds offense had in 2020 was nothing short of downright terrible. After a 12-game stretch where the Eagles went 3-8-1, it was time for the staff to make a change. After a season where he was primarily used on 1 or 2 gimmick plays a game, Jalen Hurts was given the reigns to an awful Eagles offense. Set to play the top 3 Saints defense in his first game, the Hurts-led Eagles were projected to be blown out in a humiliating fashion. However, Jalen gave the Eagles new life. In a record-breaking first career start where Hurts both passed and rushed for 100+ yards, he led the Eagles to an upset 24-21 victory over New Orleans. This game didn’t only look different for the Eagles, it felt different. Players were making plays like they hadn’t before on offense. If nothing else, one thing was clear; Hurts needed to start the rest of the season.
Hurts would follow up his win against the Saints with the best of his 4 games in an Eagles uniform against the Cardinals. After some early hiccups, Hurts would go on to pass for 338 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 0 interceptions. While the Eagles lost, it was still easy to see how the offense was much more explosive with Hurts on the field. It seemed like Hurts’ teammates were buying into him. Veterans like Brandon Graham and new guys like Jalen Reagor continued to praise Hurts’ “Natural leadership” and work ethic. However, the Eagles as a team would lose both of the next 2 games, where Hurts showed more flashes, but also some mistakes that showed that he was, in fact, an NFL rookie. After Hurts was pulled in Week 17 in an obvious sandbagging to land the Eagles a better draft pick, questions immediately swirled about the future of the team. What would happen to Carson Wentz? Doug Pederson? How will this team move on? Once again, Jalen Hurts stood in the midst of the controversy.
Part 8: The Great Beyond
The Eagles soon answered some of the biggest questions of the off-season by trading away QB Carson Wentz to the Colts and firing head coach Doug Pederson, replacing him with Colts OC Nick Sirianni. Carson being traded left Hurts the de-facto QB1 in Philly, but rumors circulated that the Eagles were eyeing up QBs in both the Draft and in the Trade market. While these have proven to be empty so far, Hurts has stayed the course. Teammates continue to be won over by Hurts’ work ethic and leadership. Jalen made an impression on team leader Lane Johnson during the off-season when working out with him at his home gym.
“Jalen knows what’s up for grabs… He’s a tremendous worker and he’s good with his teammates,” Johnson said. “A lot of the linemen can vouch for that too, a lot of our team.”[11]
As camp progressed, the rumors of Hurts being replaced began to fade. Reports seemed to indicate he had completely won over the team, and the sentiment was rising that he could be the guy to lead the franchise in the future. As the team nears close to the 2021 season, only time will tell what the future will hold for Jalen Hurts. However, when we look at history, it’s apparent that Hurts has an uncanny way of forging a path to success.
References
[1] https://www.cbs42.com/sports/the-role-jalen-hurts-family-played-on-his-path-to-becoming-the-crimson-tide-starting-qb/
[2] History of Jalen Hurts in Timeline – Popular Timelines
[3] Jalen Hurts College Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com
[4] https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/jalen-hurts-relives-being-benched-for-tua-tagovailoa-in-national-title-game/
[5] https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2018/12/jalen-hurts-opens-up-about-crying-in-parents-arms-after-title-game-benching.html
[6] https://www.si.com/college/2018/12/02/alabama-georgia-jalen-hurts-tua-tagovailoa-injury
[7] https://www.si.com/college/2018/12/02/alabama-georgia-jalen-hurts-tua-tagovailoa-injury
[8] https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/nick-saban-reveals-he-recommended-jalen-hurts-transfer-to-oklahoma-over-miami-maryland/
[9] https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2888640-jalen-hurts-rumors-eagles-planning-taysom-hill-package-on-steroids-for-qb
[10] https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/jalen-mills-incredible-story-jalen-hurts-work-ethic-eagles-fans-carson-wentz
[11] https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-jalen-hurts-impressing-workout-buddy-lane-johnson-his-work-ethic
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Noah Berger is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Noah, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
You are such a talented writer. What a great piece
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