So maybe Tua Tagovailoa was giving the company line when he said he's still fighting for his starting job at Alabama. Jalen Hurts has moved on to Oklahoma, of course, and with all due respect to his presumptive replacement as the No. 2 quarterback, Mac Jones, the level of competition just isn't the same. Paul Tyson and Tagovailoa's younger brother, Taulia, are solid prospects, but as true freshmen aren't exactly nipping at his heels.
But don't confuse Tagovailoa's suddenly secure footing with a sense of comfort. Unlike a year ago, he didn't return home to Hawaii during the offseason to relax.