If you are a fan of college football or the NFL, you may have wondered if the Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is related to the Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The answer is yes, they are brothers. But that’s not the only thing they have in common. Here’s what you need to know about Taulia Tagovailoa, his family, and his football career.
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The Tagovailoa Family
Taulia Tagovailoa was born on February 26, 2000, in ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii. He is the son of Galu and Diane Tagovailoa, who are both of Samoan descent. He has three siblings: Tua, Taylor, and Taysia. Tua is the oldest and was born on March 2, 1998. Taylor is the youngest and was born on September 9, 2004. Taysia is the only sister and was born on July 15, 2002.
The Tagovailoa family moved from Hawaii to Alabama in 2017, when Tua enrolled at the University of Alabama as a freshman quarterback. Taulia followed his brother’s footsteps and joined the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2019 as a backup quarterback. However, he transferred to the University of Maryland in 2020, seeking more playing time and a better fit for his style of play.
The Football Career of Taulia Tagovailoa
Taulia Tagovailoa started playing football at a young age, following his brother’s example. He played for Kapolei High School in Hawaii as a freshman and sophomore, where he threw for over 6,000 yards and 64 touchdowns in two seasons. He then transferred to Thompson High School in Alabama as a junior and senior, where he led his team to two state championships and threw for over 7,000 yards and 71 touchdowns in two seasons.
Taulia Tagovailoa was a four-star recruit and ranked as the fifth-best dual-threat quarterback in the nation by 247Sports. He had offers from several schools, including Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah. He ultimately chose Alabama over these schools, hoping to learn from his brother and coach Nick Saban.
However, Taulia Tagovailoa did not get much playing time at Alabama, as he was behind his brother and Mac Jones on the depth chart. He appeared in five games as a true freshman in 2019, completing nine of 12 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown.
In May 2020, Taulia Tagovailoa announced that he would be transferring to Maryland, where he would reunite with coach Mike Locksley, who was the offensive coordinator at Alabama when he committed there. He received a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately for the Terrapins.
Taulia Tagovailoa became the starting quarterback for Maryland in 2020, starting in four games out of six due to covid-19 cancellations. He led Maryland to a 2-2 record, beating Penn State and Minnesota. He threw for 1,011 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns.
Taulia Tagovailoa returned to Maryland as the starting quarterback in 2021, starting in all 13 games and earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. He led Maryland to a 7-6 record, its first winning season since 2014 and its first bowl bid since 2016. He broke the school records for single-season completions (336), passing yards (3,978), and touchdowns (28). He also rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns.
The Relationship Between Taulia and Tua Tagovailoa
Taulia Tagovailoa has always looked up to his brother Tua Tagovailoa, who is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football history. Tua won the national championship with Alabama in 2017 as a freshman, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime against Georgia. He also won several awards, including the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2018.
Tua Tagovailoa was drafted by the Miami Dolphins as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He became the starter midway through his rookie season, leading the Dolphins to a 10-6 record but missing the playoffs. He threw for 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions in nine starts. He also rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns.
Taulia Tagovailoa has said that he and his brother are very close and talk to each other every day. They support each other’s careers and give each other advice and feedback. Taulia has also said that he is proud of his brother and does not feel any pressure or burden from being compared to him. He said that he is his own person and has his own goals and dreams.
Taulia Tagovailoa has also said that he is grateful for his family and his faith, which have helped him overcome challenges and adversity. He said that his parents have taught him to work hard, be humble, and trust in God. He said that his family is his motivation and inspiration.
Conclusion
Taulia Tagovailoa is the younger brother of Tua Tagovailoa, the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins. They are both talented and successful quarterbacks who have played for Alabama and Maryland. They are also very close and supportive of each other, despite being in different states and leagues. Taulia Tagovailoa has proven that he is more than just Tua’s brother, as he has broken records and led his team to a winning season and a bowl victory. He is one of the rising stars in college football and has a bright future ahead of him.
