Hurts So Good: Alabama's Latest Weapon Jalen Hurts Unleashed

During the weeks before the Alabama-USC matchup, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said the quarterback battle was down to two players: junior Cooper Bateman and redshirt freshman Blake Barnett.

Despite the rumors swirling from fall camp about true freshman Jalen Hurts being more productive, it seemed he had effectively fallen prey to the same old Saban philosophy for the quarterback position; older players typically had a leg up.

Well, that narrative can be put to rest. The 2016 version of the Alabama Crimson Tide seems to have found a dual threat quarterback to lead them. Never let it be said that Nick Saban won’t play a true freshman at quarterback. In his post game press conference after the 52-6 demolition of USC, Saban basically told the media “got ya!” Hurts entered on the third series of the game and played until it was out of reach.

As true freshman go, Hurts however, has the measurable of an upperclassman. He was a member of his high school’s power lifting team. Ok, so what? Hold on. I’m not done. As a senior in high school he squatted 570 lbs. That’s some serious weight for someone listed in the Alabama media guide at 209 lbs.

Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) throws during the first half against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Hurts was an early enrollee at the Capstone, arriving this past January. He went through spring practice and had the winning touchdown pass in the annual A-day game last April. Alabama’s strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran worked with him all summer and when fall practice arrived, he continued to build upon his success.

Back to the game.

As I mentioned previously, Hurts entered on the third series of the game. His first collegiate play however? Not exactly memorable as he fumbled the exchange on a read-option with the running back. Saban stuck with him, however, and was rewarded as Hurts settled down and tossed his first career touchdown pass to ArDarius Stewart. He added a second to Stewart later as the USC defense busted a coverage and Hurts calmly read it and made the easy throw.

Normally this would be enough for any true freshman playing in their first game, but Hurts added two more touchdowns on the ground, both on designed runs. Yeah – you read that correctly. Alabama called two run plays for a quarterback.

Hurts So Good: Alabama’s Latest Weapon Jalen Hurts Unleashed

By Kirk Franklin | Sep 9, 2016

During the weeks before the Alabama-USC matchup, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said the quarterback battle was down to two players: junior Cooper Bateman and redshirt freshman Blake Barnett.

Back to the game.

So what does this mean going forward?