Taulia Tagovailoa is back in the spotlight, and this time it came on a flag football field.
The former Alabama quarterback helped American Samoa knock off Team USA 38-32 at the Flag Football World Championships, handing Team USA its first loss in 14 years. Tagovailoa threw five touchdowns in the upset, as American Samoa delivered the result that ended Team USA’s long unbeaten run in competitive play.
For Tagovailoa, the performance adds another chapter to a football journey that has taken him far beyond his brief stop in Tuscaloosa. He joined Alabama in the 2019 recruiting class, which was the only season he and his brother Tua were both on the Crimson Tide roster. Taulia played in five games that year, completing 9 of 12 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
After leaving Alabama, Tagovailoa transferred to Maryland to play for Mike Locksley, a coach the family already knew well from his three seasons on Nick Saban’s Alabama staff from 2016-18. That move turned into a big one for his career. At Maryland, Tagovailoa set the Big Ten career passing yards record with 11,256 and also left with several program marks, including 76 career passing touchdowns.
His path since college has continued to wind through the pro ranks. Tagovailoa has spent time in the Canadian Football League, Indoor Football League and United Football League, and he went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, he’s back in the headlines after leading American Samoa to one of the most eye-catching results of the tournament.
In Other News...
Alabama Veterans Are Suddenly Fighting To Hold Off Fall Camp Surges
Two weeks into fall camp, Alabama has already reached a familiar August pressure point: veterans who figured to have clean paths to key jobs are spending more time looking over their shoulders. The Crimson Tide have gone through one of two scrimmages as they gear up for the 2026 season, and the competition has widened across the roster, with established names like kicker Conor Talty, safety Keon Sabb, running back Daniel Hill and linebacker QB Reese all feeling real heat from younger players who have made loud early bids for playing time.
What makes this camp different is how quickly those pushes have become impossible to ignore. The staff is sorting through a group of players who have flashed in practice and carried that momentum into scrimmage work, creating a live battle at several spots rather than a routine summer tune-up. For Alabama, the question is no longer just which veterans can keep their jobs, but which of the newcomers keep forcing their way into the conversation before camp closes. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Running Back Battle Suddenly Feels Bigger Than Fans Expected
Courtney Morgans job has turned into one of the more important behind-the-scenes assignments in Alabama football, and the running back room is a good example of why. As the programs general manager, Morgan handles recruiting coordination, transfer portal oversight and roster management, and he had to pivot late in the process after Javari Barnett backed off his commitment. From there, Alabama identified Trae'shawn Brown as a name worth circling, and Brown did enough during the A-Day spring game in April to suggest he could fit into the conversation sooner rather than later.
The timing may matter even more now because the competition at running back has taken on a different look heading toward the season. Alabama is dealing with injuries and missed practice time in the room, including AK Dear being out and EJ Crowell spending significant time away from practice, which opens the door for Brown to make a quicker push than many expected. What started as a late recruiting adjustment is starting to feel like a real roster development to watch once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]