To be more accurate, I’d say 2 seasons and part of a third — since he didn‘t play as much his frosh year. But one really HUGE 2nd half of a really important game. As a true freshman no less.
Regardless, your point is one I’ve made many times the past 6 months. When trying to maximize the odds of hitting on a QB, it’s an important factor to consider IMO.
A three year star is a much better risk to trade up for than a one year wonder. But Tua’s hip concern has me not championing that type of move and instead hoping he falls to #5.
In reality he wasn’t a starter in 2017...he was a backup to Jalen Hurts doing mop up duty, and he happened to get in for Hurts in his biggest moment in the National championship but he wasn’t the starter.
In 2018 he won the starters job over Hurts despite breaking his index finger in the spring that required surgery ...he sprained his knee against Missouri but played through it...a month later...he injured his left quad and left the game against Mississippi state.
He injured his left ankle against Georgia in the SEC championship that Bama was losing...Jalen Hurts came in and led a come from behind victory.
Tua gets the surgery on the ankle and returns to beat Oklahoma and lose to Clemson in the National championship game.
In 2019, Tua hurts the right ankle against Tennessee...has surgery and misses the Arkansas game....returns to get beat by Joe Burrow and LSU In Tuscaloosa.
And of course in the next game his hip injury against Mississippi state...and he misses the rest of the season.
So in summation... he was backup in 2017....in 2018 he had two surgeries and missed part of one game.
In 2019 he had two more surgeries and missed 3 full games and part of another.
So to call that 3 starting years is untrue.
He was the named starter in 2 seasons and missed playing time due to injury and surgeries in both seasons.
