Beech Tree News Network

 Jalen Hurts was not raised by a single mom in a housing project.  He was not poor.  He grew up in Texas.  His mom was a teacher, his dad a high school football coach.  At age 18, Jalen was a star player his senior year at Channelview when Alabama came calling.  The year was 2016.  So, what’s so inspiring about a kid who seemed to have it all?  Glad you asked.  Let me tell you.

Jalen Hurts started his freshman year at Alabama as the starting quarterback.  By 2018 he was overtaken by Tua Tagovailoa, who took the position.  Coach Nick Saban took time to advise Hurts.  “You want to play in the NFL,” Saban said, “you’re a great athlete, you have to focus on what you need to do every day in practice to become a better quarterback in the passing game, decision making, judgement, accuracy, all those things” (247sports.com).  Hurts listened.  He stayed at Alabama and worked on becoming a better thrower.

Do you know how hard that would be?  To begin as a starting quarterback at the top college team in the nation at that time, then have to take a back seat to someone with better skills.  He didn’t let embarrassment send him home.  He put his head down and kept working and waiting.  His moment came when Tua got hurt during the 2018 SEC Championship game.  Georgia was up 28 – 14, and it was the fourth quarter, when Saban put Hurts in.  Hurts led his team to a 35 – 28 win over the Bulldogs and clenched the title for Alabama.  

An SEC sports commentator said this: “Jalen Hurts spent most of the season watching from the sideline, cheering on the guy who took his job and hoping for one more chance to lead the Alabama Crimson Tide.  He didn’t pout” (secsports.com).  Jalen made the most of that one more chance, but even that victory wouldn’t be enough.  Tua remained starting quarterback.

Still, Jalen Hurts stayed at Alabama and kept practicing.  During the 2019 season, Oklahoma lost their starting quarterback to the NFL draft.  They were interested in Hurts, who transferred to that university, at the urging of Coach Nick Saban.  Oklahoma won the Big 12 Conference with Hurts at the helm and finished the season with a 12 – 2 win/loss record.  Jalen Hurts was the 2019 Heisman Trophy runner up, second to Joe Burrow of LSU (soonersports.com).

At the 2020 NFL Draft, Hurts was picked number 53 in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles.  He was 22 years old.  This year, 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles are ranked 3rd in the NFL standings.  Jalen Hurts is 26 years old.  That’s right.  This guy experienced and pushed through all of the experiences and obstacles and setbacks I’ve told you about from the age of 18 to the age of 26.  I wish I’d been that smart, that young.

This is what I learned from an Alabama quarterback:  Don’t run away when you’re embarrassed, because shame will rob you of your destiny if you let it.  Keep working on your skills, even when they aren’t as good as the skills of those around you.  Just because you are standing in one place doesn’t mean you aren’t moving forward.  And the most important thing I learned from an Alabama quarterback:  Waiting takes perseverance.