Former Alabama prep star, Tide QB signs with Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed former Thompson High School quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa for their practice squad, the Canadian Football League team announced on Monday.
Tagovailoa played at Alabama in the 2019 season before transferring to Maryland.
In his four seasons with the Terrapins, Tagovailoa became the Big Ten’s career leader for passing yards. At Maryland, Tagovailoa completed 955-of-1,424 passes for 11,256 yards with 76 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. While at Maryland, Tagovailoa tied the school single-season record for touchdown passes of 26 established by Scott Milanovich, who is Hamilton’s coach.
At Thompson High School in Alabaster, Tagovailoa was the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 7A Back of the Year for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Tagovailoa became the first player in Alabama high school history with at least four 400-yard passing games, with a high of 507 yards in a 35-21 victory over Oak Mountain in a 7A Region 3 game on Sept. 14, 2018.
As a senior, Tagovailoa passed for 3,728 yards and 35 touchdowns as the Warriors reached the AHSAA Class 7A Championship Game. Central-Phenix City beat Thompson 52-7 for the state crown. After sustaining a shoulder injury in a 31-28 semifinal victory over Hoover, Tagovailoa was unable to complete the title game.
At Alabama, Tagovailoa was behind his brother, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones on the Crimson Tide’s depth chart in 2019. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 100 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions at Alabama.
Taulia Tagovailoa planned to play another college season in 2024. He entered the NCAA transfer portal and filed a waiver for a sixth season of eligibility.
In his single season at Alabama, Tagovailoa played in five games, one more than the limit for a redshirt season. The waiver request noted Tagovailoa played only four snaps in two of the games. Because the rules to deal with the coronavirus pandemic don’t count the 2020 season in eligibility, Tagovailoa could have played again in 2024 if 2019 could have been considered a redshirt year.
The NCAA turned down his request, and the Maryland QB entered the draft. He was not drafted in April but attended the rookie minicamps of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.
Hamilton opened its season with a 32-24 loss to the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 27-of-38 passes for 300 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Hamilton has two other quarterbacks on its roster, Taylor Powell and Hamilton Frost.
The Tiger-Cats start their home schedule at 6 p.m. CDT Sunday when the Saskatchewan Roughriders visit Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario.
The players from Alabama high schools and colleges on CFL rosters include:
British Columbia Lions
· One-game injured list: Offensive lineman Chris Schleuger (UAB)
Calgary Stampeders
· Running back B.J. Emmons (Alabama)
Edmonton Elks
· Linebacker Woodly Appolon (Tuskegee)
· Linebacker D.K. Bonhomme (South Alabama)
· Practice squad: Jermaine Brown Jr. (St. Luke’s, UAB)
· Defensive back Devodric Bynum (UAB)
· Quarterback Jarret Doege (Troy)
· Practice squad: Linebacker Reynard Ellis (Shades Valley, UAB)
· Defensive back Kordell Jackson (Ramsay)
· Six-game injured list: Wide receiver Kyran Moore (McAdory)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
· Defensive lineman Kelle Sanders (UAB)
· Defensive back Will Sunderland (Troy)
· Practice squad: Taulia Tagovailoa (Thompson, Alabama)
Ottawa Redblacks
· Wide receiver Nick Mardner (Auburn)
· Wide receiver Eli Stove (Auburn)
Saskatchewan Roughriders
· Defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II (Alabama A&M)
· Practice squad: Zakoby McClain (Auburn)
· Defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. (UAB)
Toronto Argonauts
· Defensive back Darius Joiner (Handley, Jacksonville State)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
· Wide receiver Myron Mitchell (Jasper, UAB)
· Practice squad: Offensive lineman Kendall Randolph (Bob Jones, Alabama)
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.