Alabama coach Nick Saban: Jalen Hurts is starting QB, but Tua Tagovailoa will play some

Alabama head coach Nick Saban appeared on ESPN First Take on Wednesday and reiterated a point he made earlier this month at SEC Media Days — Jalen Hurts is the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback, but Tua Tagovailoa will get some playing time.

Hurts led Alabama to the national championship game last season as a freshman, but Tagovailoa is a highly regarded incoming freshman with top potential.

“Tua is a very, very good player. We’re glad to have him in the program, and he’s someone who needs to play some,” Saban said on First Take, per 247sports. “Now, I’m not creating a quarterback controversy here because Jalen Hurts is our starting quarterback.”

Hurts threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns, while also rushing 954 yards and 13 scores in his first season. But against Clemson in the national championship game, he completed just 13 of his 31 pass attempts for 131 yards.

Tagovailoa is a 5-star recruit from Honolulu, Hawaii, who Saban has said needs to get on the field in order to have the chance to develop.

While Saban may not necessarily be creating a controversy for who his starting quarterback will be, it could be interesting to see how he chooses to split playing time between the two QBs, particularly as the season goes on.