The two may have never shared a locker room, but Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have built a bit of a bond.
Both signal callers spent their collegiate careers at Alabama. While Tagovailoa left in 2019, Young entered the following year as a freshman in 2020.
Still, that Crimson Tide blood runs through them, as they’re both members of the string of Alabama quarterbacks to be selected rather high in the draft.
Earlier in the week, Young was asked about his relationship with Tagovailoa, and he explained that his time with Alabama helped him choose to play there.
“As far as my college career definitely [his time at Alabama] was really big,” Young said. “It was a big reason why I went to Alabama. It was a big transition from when he was there just what the offense looked like and what Alabama moved to offensively. It’s flourished since then. I was a recruit when all of that was happening, so that was a really big reason for me being there. I know Tua. I’ve talked to him throughout the years a good amount of times. He’s just a really good guy, really good person. I’ve watched a ton of film with him from ‘Bama. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a person and definitely him as a player. It’s definitely a great opportunity to be able to go against him this weekend.”
Young hasn’t seen a ton of success early on, as his Panthers are winless through the first five weeks of the regular season. In his four starts, he’s completing 63.9% of his attempts for 750 yards with five touchdowns, four interceptions and a 77.0 passer rating.
During the first years of Tagovailoa’s career, he may have been helping the team win, but he was still hearing the criticism.
Young was also asked if the two have talked this year, and if there’s been any advice that the veteran has shared with the rookie.
“For sure, a couple of times, including this offseason,” Young said. “We’ve had some conversations. Again, he’s a great person, a great dude. It’s great to see him begin able to have the success he’s had. And, he’s been able to [focus on] just being consistent and working hard and just trying to continue to build and keep growing. It’s been really great, just for me, again he was a big reason why I ended up going to Alabama, and being able to see that translate and see him flourish at this level, it’s been great to watch for me over the years. He shared some of that stuff and sentiments, so I’m super grateful for that.”
Tagovailoa has been praised for his work as a teammate before, and his former teammates seem to continue looking to him for advice, answers and camaraderie. Whether it’s been Young, Mac Jones or Jalen Hurts, Tagovailoa’s been there to help.
