ATLANTA — In 12 games, Jalen Hurts has evolved from a mysterious true freshman who could take the reins of the defending national champions into a college football phenomenon who not only led his team to an undefeated regular season but could earn a decent amount of Heisman Trophy love if he polishes off Florida in the SEC Championship Game Saturday afternoon.
He was already named one of 10 finalists for the 2016 Manning Award, given to the nation's top quarterback.
"Jalen, to be able to go through what he's gone through this year in terms of his development, his ability to be resilient, not get really upset when he has a bad play or something bad happens," head coach Nick Saban said on Sunday's teleconference.