3 weeks ago
Tua Tagovailoa was a backmost each squad wanted earlier nan commencement of nan 2019 assemblage shot season, which would yet beryllium his past pinch nan Alabama Crimson Tide.
"Tank for Tua" was successful afloat swing. But a superior hep wounded and a surgery chemoreceptor against Mississippi State threw his draught banal awry. Not to mention, nan opening of nan coronavirus pandemic done nan draught process disconnected entirely. The full draught itself was held virtually for nan first time.
Most draught experts believed that moreover pinch nan injury, Tagovailoa was going to beryllium taken early successful nan first information – it was conscionable a matter of when. Joe Burrow was first disconnected nan board, followed by Chase Young, Jeff Okudah and Andrew Thomas. The Dolphins past selected Tagovailoa pinch nan No. 5 prime of nan 2020 draft.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Tua Tagovailoa of nan Miami Dolphins looks to walk against nan Baltimore Ravens astatine M&T Bank Stadium successful Baltimore connected Dec. 31, 2023. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Tagovailoa, successful a caller question and reply pinch Fox News Digital, said he could’ve been 1 of nan first 3 chosen if he was patient and that immoderate fearfulness crept successful that he would beryllium near retired of nan first information because of nan injuries.
"I deliberation for my peculiar draught class, I had a unsocial woody going connected because, for one, it was COVID. COVID was going on," he said. "And then, two, I was besides dealing pinch an wounded starring up to nan draft. I had my hep injury, and past I also, like, collapsed my chemoreceptor astatine nan aforesaid time. I was besides successful this grey area of, OK, I cognize if I were healthy, I could person had an opportunity to beryllium nan first draught prime aliases nan 2nd aliases nan third, you know, extracurricular nan apical five."
"But for me, location was besides immoderate fears and doubts of not being successful nan first information conscionable because of nan wounded and conscionable because nan guys that person played were healthy, and they besides had really bully seasons coming retired into that draught – nan quarterbacks coming retired into that draft," he continued.
Tagovailoa added that he felt a sigh of alleviation erstwhile he heard his sanction called fifth.
"So, erstwhile I did get nan call, erstwhile I was capable to perceive my sanction was going to beryllium called crossed nan ticker aliases beryllium called by [Commissioner] Roger Goodell, location was a sigh of relief," Tagovailoa said. "But then, I don’t deliberation group really understand, like, erstwhile you get called, and you’re a first-round draught pick, there’s truthful overmuch much that comes pinch you being a first-round draught pick."
NBA CHAMP BLASTS GAYLE KING OVER CAITLIN CLARK REMARK DURING INTERVIEW WITH DAWN STALEY
Tua Tagovailoa shows disconnected nan lining of his overgarment during nan first information of nan NFL Draft connected April 23, 2020. (NFL via Getty Images)
"The weight of that organization, that team, for you to measurement successful correct measurement … like, cipher cares really young you are," he said. "Nobody cares astir immoderate of that. They want to cognize what you tin do for america now. So, for me, each of that is moving done my head, and I tin consciousness nan unit of having to travel successful and effort to beryllium nan superstar and do astonishing things for nan team. It was a small roller coaster, too, during my draught year. As I tin recall, those were immoderate of nan feelings that I had that twelvemonth successful 2020."
The expectations person been tremendous for Tagovailoa going in, pinch Dolphins fans hoping nan adjacent Dan Marino will measurement onto nan section astatine Hard Rock Stadium.
During his rookie season, he divided clip pinch Ryan Fitzpatrick, and past injuries hampered his 2nd year. In years 3 and 4, he showcased what he could do pinch nan correct crippled scheme and weapons astir him.
He talked astir managing each of nan expectations astir him.
NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS JOE ALT, BO NIX ENJOY BLACK HAWK FLIGHT OVER DETROIT WITH NATIONAL GUARD THANKS TO USAA
Tua Tagovailoa (Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images/File)
"I’m astir to spell into twelvemonth 5 pinch my profession. I would say, nan personification that you were past twelvemonth is different than nan personification you are this year. The personification you are 2 years agone is simply a wholly different personification [than] nan personification you were past year," he told Fox News Digital. "And I would opportunity nan aforesaid stands existent for me."
"I wish I knew what I cognize now past erstwhile I was a rookie coming in. In these professions, having to woody pinch people, having to beryllium placed successful a activity domiciled – you study to turn up fast, but past I deliberation nan cool point astir it, too, is you’re ever growing, you’re ever evolving. It’s conscionable nan quality of nan beast … being successful immoderate occupation that entails title and whatnot.
"For me, nan measurement I’ve been capable to woody pinch it is conscionable being capable to travel to nan realization that, dude, nary of this is going to spell away. As you’re playing, nary of this is going to spell away. But yeah, arsenic you commencement to age, and you commencement to get retired of your premier area of your playing days, past it’ll astir apt commencement to dice down. Then you tin commencement to beryllium fixed excuses astir things."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"I deliberation for me, it’s just, dude, here’s nan authorities of nan union. It is what it is. What are you going to do astir it? That’s benignant of nan mind framework I person pinch it."
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to nan Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
