2020 Draft Profiles: Tua Tagovailoa

Round: 1 (5th overall) • Position: QB • Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 217 • College: Alabama

- ALAIN POUPART

The Dolphins opened their 2020 NFL draft by taking the player with whom they had been linked for about a year, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

It marked the fourth time since the start of the common draft in 1967 that the Dolphins had selected a quarterback in the first round, as Tagovailoa followed Hall of Famer Bob Griese (1967), Hall of Famer Dan Marino (1983) and Ryan Tannehill (2012).

College Career:

Three-year letterman and two-year starter at Alabama

Finished as Alabama’s career touchdown responsibility leader with 96 (87 passing, 9 rushing)

Came off the bench at halftime of the 2017 BCS title game and rallied Alabama to a 26-23 overtime victory against Georgia when he threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Devonta Smith on a second-and25.

Threw 87 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions during his three years at Alabama

Threw three or more touchdown passes in 17 of his 32 games at Alabama, with 12 games of at least four TDs, four of at least five TDs, and a high of six touchdowns against Mississippi in 2019

Averaged exactly three touchdown passes in three BCS playoff games — against Georgia in 2017, and against Oklahoma and Clemson in 2018

Saw his completion percentage improve every year, from 63.6 as a true freshman in 2017 to 69.0 in 2018 and finally to 71.4 last season

Completed at least 70 percent of his passes 16 times, including an 88.9 percent showing (24-of-27) against Oklahoma in the 2018 BCS college playoffs

Rushed for 340 yards during his time at Alabama, including a high of 190 in 2018 when he also had a career-high five rushing scores

Saw his college career end when he sustained a hip injury against Mississippi State in early November

College Honors: