After a long-shot bid for an extra year of eligibility, the Big Ten’s all-time leading passer appears to be headed to the NFL. Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is entering the NFL draft, according to a Tuesday morning report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. Tagovailoa, 23, had sought a sixth year of eligibility and entered into the transfer portal after playing a season with Alabama and four years with the Terrapins. Tagovailoa’s case rested on the circumstances surrounding his freshman season with the Crimson Tide. That year, he played in five games—one above the NCAA threshold for maintaining a redshirt. However, one of the games was a 38–7 win over Mississippi State he entered briefly to pay tribute to his brother Tua Tagovailoa—the future Miami Dolphins quarterback, who sustained a season-ending injury in the game.
He then transferred to Maryland, throwing for 11,256 yards from 2020 to ’23-the most in conference history. Tagovailoa steered the Terrapins to victories in the Pinstripe, Duke’s Mayo and Music City Bowls in his career.
