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Against The Citadel, Tua Tagovailoa threw his 29th, 30th and 31st touchdown passes of the season. Those last two tied and then passed AJ McCarron’s single season record of 30.
Additionally, Tagovailoa is sitting at 35 touchdowns (31 pass, 4 rush) this season. That ties him for 2nd place with Blake Sims (28 pass, 7 rush) for the most in a single season. Jalen Hurts holds the record for his 36 touchdowns (23 pass, 13 rush) in 2016. Sims played in 14 games; Hurts played in 15. Tagovailoa has 35 touchdowns in 11 games. He could break this record before the end of the 1st quarter of the Iron Bowl.
Looking at his career, Tagovailoa is just a true sophomore. He has started a total of just 11 games and has appeared in 20. And Tagovailoa is already #6 in total touchdowns in Alabama history with 48.
- AJ McCarron - 80 (77 pass, 3 rush)
- Jalen Hurts - 68 (46 pass, 22 rush)
- John Park Wilson - 58 (47 pass, 11 rush)
- Harry Gilmer - 52 (29 pass, 19 rush, 2 PR, 1 KOR, 1 INT return)
- Shaun Alexander - 50 (41 rush, 8 rec, 1 KOR)
- Tua Tagovailoa - 48 (42 pass, 6 rush)
McCarron had three full seasons as a starter. Hurts had two. Tagovailoa has had less than one.
Barring some catastrophe, Tagovailoa should pass both Shaun Alexander and Harry Gilmer before the season ends. He will hopefully pass Alexander before the Iron Bowl ends. It’s also eminently possible he ends the year in possession of 3rd place, especially if Alabama plays in 15 games.
And then, again barring some catastrophe, Tagovailoa should pass both Hurts and McCarron sometime next season to set a new school record.