Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa became a household name in college football during his record-setting college career. Originally from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Tua's family moved to Alabaster, Alabama prior to the star quarterback's freshman season under Nick Saban. Coming with them was another star in the making, though, who might be just as good as his older brother.
Taulia Tagovailoa was a four-star recruit and the No. 4 pro-style quarterback for the 2019 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports. The senior led Thompson High School to an 11-2 record as a senior, a berth in the Class 7A state championship game, and he became the 10th quarterback in Alabama High School history to reach 500 yards in a single game.
If one wasn't scary enough, two Tagovailoa's are playing for head coach Nick Saban and the University of Alabama football team.
Taulia Tagovailoa High School
As a junior, Taulia led Thompson to a 12-1 record, but lost to Hoover High School in the state semifinals. According to stats submitted to MaxPreps, Tua's little brother racked up 7,504 passing yards — just over 300 yards per game — and tossed 71 touchdowns against only 13 interceptions in his final two seasons of high school football.
Before his move to Thompson, Tagovailoa played 23 games at Kapolei High School in Hawaii. While there, he threw for 6,703 yards and 64 touchdowns as a sophomore and freshman.
For those counting at home, that brings Taulia Tagovailoa's high school stats to a mind-boggling 14,207 passing yards and 135 touchdown passes across four years at two schools.
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The younger brother's best game at Thompson was a 507-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 35-21 victory over Oak Mountain in 2018. It was Taulia's fourth-career game over 400 yards, which is the most by any player in Alabama high school history.
The following weekend, Taulia threw for another 350 yards in a 35-0 win over Tuscaloosa County while his brother, flanked by police officers, watched from the sidelines on the eve of his own career performance the following day against Texas A&M.
"He just gave me encouraging words, just do your thing and stuff like that. As a brother, it means a lot for him to show up knowing they've got a game, and it's a big one tomorrow, too, and that means a lot to me," Taulia Tagovailoa said. "Family is everything to me, and it was just fun to see them come out."
Taulia Tagovailoa Highlights
The Tennessee Volunteers and LSU Tigers were among the SEC schools that received visits from the younger Tagovailoa, and powerhouse programs like Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, and Oregon were among the schools offering scholarships to the prized recruit. However, it never really felt like the Alabama Crimson Tide weren't going to land Taulia.
"I learned from my dad and my brother and I know that I'm prepared. I don't get tired of hearing about my brother or being compared to him because it's a blessing that he's done what he's done. We're similar, but I'm my own player. I'm going to be the best me now and when I get there."
— Taulia Tagovailoa, via USA Today
Everyone remembers how Tua Tagovailoa took over for Jalen Hurts at halftime and tossed a 41-yard touchdown pass to win the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Few will ever forget the season-ending hip injury that cut short the Heisman Trophy candidate's junior season.
If younger brother is anything like older brother, though, there's no doubt a few Player of the Year lists will feature the Tagovailoa name once again.
