As the worst case scenario became the first case scenario at Clemson with Trevor Lawrence going down just days after Kelly Bryant announced his intent to transfer, no such drama will unfold in Tuscaloosa. At least not yet.
No. 1 Alabama rolled to a 56-14 win over Louisiana-Lafayette to improve to 5-0 on the season, and backup quarterback Jalen Hurts made his fifth appearance of the season, thereby removing the option for the junior to use 2018 as a redshirt year and transfer elsewhere.
There was never really doubt Nick Saban would handle the Hurts situation exactly as he has, but now it’s official: should Hurts decide to pursue a graduate transfer following this season, he will do so as a senior and not a junior.
Just as he has over the Tide’s first four games, Hurts entered the game in the first half with the game already in hand. He took his first snap with 47 seconds remaining in the first quarter and Alabama already holding a 28-0 lead. Hurts completed his first drive with a 54-yard touchdown strike to Henry Ruggs III and finished the day completing 4-of-6 passes for 118 yards with a touchdown while rushing four times for eight yards.
For the record, Tua Tagovailoa completed all eight of his attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
On the year, Hurts is now 22-of-31 for 276 yards with four touchdowns and one interception while rushing 15 times for 54 yards.
