Jalen Hurts’ path to NFL stardom has been anything but conventional. Unlike most quarterbacks who thrive under one system and one head coach, Hurts’ college career was a rollercoaster of triumph, adversity, and redemption.
Hurts never took the easy route. At Alabama, he led one of college football’s most dominant programs to consecutive national championship games — only to be benched at halftime on the sport’s biggest stage. Instead of letting that moment define him, he embraced it, grew from it, and used it as motivation.
Let’s take a year-by-year look at how Hurts’ college career shaped him into the leader and playmaker he is today.
Freshman Year (2016): A Star is Born
Hurts arrived at Alabama as a four-star recruit but wasn’t expected to start right away. That changed quickly.
In just the second game of the season, head coach Nick Saban handed the offense over to the 18-year-old freshman, making him the first true freshman quarterback to start for Alabama in over 30 years.
Right away, Hurts looked like a seasoned veteran. He threw for 2,780 yards, rushed for another 954, and accounted for 36 total touchdowns while leading Alabama to a perfect 14-0 record heading into the national championship game.
But despite a strong first half against Clemson, Alabama’s defense couldn’t stop Deshaun Watson, and the Crimson Tide lost with one second left on the clock.
Four years ago today, Deshaun Watson called game with one second left to give Clemson the #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/avqUtxIEUS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 9, 2021
Even with the heartbreaking finish, Hurts had established himself as one of the top young quarterbacks in the nation.
Sophomore Year (2017): Highs and Lows of Success
Hurts entered his sophomore season as the unquestioned leader of the Crimson Tide and continued to dominate, throwing for 2,081 yards, rushing for 855, and totaling 25 touchdowns while leading Alabama to another national championship game. But that’s where everything changed.
Facing Georgia in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championsip Game, Hurts struggled in the first half, and Alabama trailed 13-0 at halftime. In a stunning decision, Nick Saban benched him in favor of freshman Tua Tagovailoa, who led the Tide to an unforgettable 26-23 comeback win in overtime.
Hurts handled the moment with incredible grace, celebrating the victory despite losing his starting job.
It was an important moment in his career, one that could have broken many players. Instead, Hurts used it as motivation to grow as both a player and leader.
Junior Year (2018): A Lesson in Leadership
Hurts spent his junior season as Tagovailoa’s backup, but he never sulked, never complained, and never stopped preparing. His moment arrived in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, when Tagovailoa went down with an injury. With Alabama’s playoff hopes on the line, Hurts stepped in and delivered. He threw for a touchdown, ran for another, and led the Tide to a dramatic 35-28 comeback victory — poetic redemption considering what had happened a year earlier.
Even though Tagovailoa resumed his role as the starter, Hurts had proven something even more important: he was a leader, a winner, and a quarterback who could rise to any occasion. But with his NFL dreams in mind, he knew he needed one more year to showcase his talents as a full-time starter.
Senior Year (2019): A New Beginning at Oklahoma
Determined to prove he could thrive as a passer, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma for his senior season under head coach Lincoln Riley, who had developed Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray into No. 1 overall draft picks. The move paid off immediately.
Hurts put up video-game numbers, throwing for 3,851 yards, rushing for 1,298, and accounting for 53 total touchdowns. He led Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance while finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting behind Joe Burrow.
He had answered every question about his ability to throw the football, run a high-powered offense, and lead a team under pressure. His growth as a passer, combined with his already elite athleticism, made him one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft, where he was selected 53rd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Through hardwork, determination, and resilience Hurts was finally able to make his NFL dream come true.