“THERE’S NO DOUBT HE HAS THE SKILLS TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL. I SEE HIM IN THE MOLD OF A LOT OF QUARTERBACKS THAT ARE PLAYING IN THE NFL.” The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Taulia has a cannon for an arm and good speed for a quarterback. He scored a 40-yard touchdown run against Minnesota last fall. “There’s no doubt he has the skills to play at the next level,” says Locksley, a former Alabama offensive coordinator. “I see him in the mold of a lot of quarterbacks that are playing in the NFL.” Tagovailoa also had some memorable games passing in his first season as a starter. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-19 win over Penn State and hit on 26 of 35 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns during a 45-44 conquest of Minnesota. TOWNE INTERVIEW
Taulia Tagovailoa Quarterback, Maryland Terrapins Football
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By Tom Worgo Photography courtesy University of Maryland
ou can call quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa the face of Maryland football. The country knows Tagovailoa better than Terps’ Head Coach Mike Locksley because of his family pedigree. Tagovailoa’s brother, Tua, led Alabama to two collegiate national championships and now starts at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.
Taulia, a junior who transferred from Alabama after his freshman year, wants to reach his brother’s level of success. The younger Tagovailoa expects to catapult Maryland to the next level and one day play in the NFL.
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What’s Up? Eastern Shore | August 2021 | whatsupmag.com
Tagovailoa graduated from Honolulu’s Saint Louis School, where he was a four-star recruit. He chose Alabama over scholarship offers from LSU, Florida, and Tennessee. “One thing that jumps out at me the most is his ability to throw the ball accurately,” Locksley says. “He is also able to make big plays because of his feet.” We recently talked with Tagovailoa about his relationship with Tua, the prospects of leading Maryland to a winning season, and the influence Locksley has had on him. Your brother won two national championships at Alabama and is the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. Have you leaned on him for advice a lot over the years? I have always been learning from my brother since I became quarterback. I talk to him every
day. He’s my role model and someone I look up to. He played in the same system we use now. I call and ask about certain plays we run. He always tells me to be myself, don’t listen to the outside noise, and continue to work hard. That’s what I have been doing. What was it like being on the same team for a year at Alabama? It was a blessing. I wouldn’t take any of those days back. It was so great to play with him on the same team. Those memories last a lifetime. My family was very happy with it. They didn’t have to go to two different colleges to see us play. The just had to go to an Alabama game. It was pretty cool that we could get the entire family in one place. Was it a sibling rivalry between you two growing up? It was a healthy competition. My dad pushed us every day, and I feel we made each other better every day. It was really a lot of fun playing football with him. How can you beat playing with your brother?
