If you’ve followed Jalen Hurts’ career from college to the pros, you’ll probably agree that he has been vastly underappreciated during his career.
And that’s continued in the NFL, especially this season as he’s led the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game.
During his three years at Alabama, Hurts starred as both a starter and in relief when given the opportunity.
He was the first true freshman to start for the Crimson Tide since Vince Sutton in 1984. In 2016, he threw for 2,780 yards with 23 TDs and 9 INTs. Hurts added 954 yards rushing and 13 TDs. He also broke both the school’s single-season rushing record (791 yards) and single-season total TDs (35). He made history again against Mississippi State on November 12th, 2016, when he became the first player in Alabama history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in a single game.
That year Jalen was named SEC Freshman of the Year and Conference Player of the Year, and he led the Tide to a 12-0 record before ultimately falling to Clemson in the National Championship game.
His sophomore season brought high expectations, yet it ended with Hurts on the bench and Tua leading the Tide to a National Championship title.
Tua’s rise signaled Jalen’s end at Alabama. So after his junior season, he transferred to Oklahoma and became a star once again.
In 14 games, Hurts threw for 3,851 yards with 32 TDs and 8 INTs. He also rushed for 1,298 yards and 20 TDs. He was named 1st team All-Big 12, led the nation in passing yards/attempt, and was second in the nation in both passing efficiency (191.2) and total TDs (53).
That year he amassed more passing yards, rushing yards and total TDs than Justin Herbert, Jordan Love and Jacob Eason, players he was ranked behind.
If it hadn’t been for Joe Burrow annihilating the competition at LSU that year, he would have won the Heisman in 2019.
Despite his accomplishments in two of the toughest conferences in college football, some still doubted his NFL potential.
Burrow was a record-setter and national champion.
Herbert was the prototype QB that had NFL scouts salivating.
Those two continue to prove their worth every Sunday.
And so does Hurts.
When the Eagles selected him in the second round with the 53rd pick, Philly fans welcomed him with almost as must adoration as they bestowed upon Donovan McNabb in 1999.
For those of you who don’t remember that moment, McNabb’s tears from the booing he received weren’t ones of joy.
While Hurts didn’t receive that level of venom, Eagles fans were puzzled by the selection as they already had Carson Wentz.
But those of us who knew better recognized that Wentz was not the answer, and the latter proved us right.
From Slow Start To Super Bowl (Maybe)
While Hurts didn’t set the world on fire in his four starts at the end of the 2020 season, 2021 presented him with the opportunity to showcase what he could do. Yet that was slow to materialize as head coach Nick Sirianni didn’t name him the starter until right before the start of the season.
That year, Hurts threw for 3,144 yards with 16 TDs and 9 INTs. He also rushed for 784 yards and 10 TDs. The Eagles made the playoffs and he was named a Pro Bowl alternate. That should have been reason enough to accept him as QB No.1 heading into 2022.
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