Since being drafted in the second round in 2020 by the Philadelphia Eagles, Jalen Hurts has grown into the face of the franchise, making two Pro Bowls and taking the Eagles to a Super Bowl. As of the 2024 season, Hurts has thrown for 14,667 yards and 85 touchdowns, completing 68.7% of his passes. He’s also a dangerous runner, adding 630 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2024 alone.
Before his NFL success, Hurts had an impressive college career at Alabama and Oklahoma. He set multiple records and was even a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, an award given to the best player in college football.
Jalen Hurts’ College Journey: From Alabama To Oklahoma
Hurts started his college football career at Alabama in 2016 and was their starting quarterback for two seasons. As a freshman, he led Alabama to a 14-1 record and a spot in the national championship game, throwing for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 954 yards and 13 more scores. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year for his performance.
In 2017, Hurts led Alabama to another national championship game, but Tua Tagovailoa replaced him at halftime. The next season, he played mostly as a backup but had a big moment in the SEC Championship Game, coming off the bench to lead Alabama to a comeback win over Georgia. Over three years at Alabama, Hurts had an incredible 26-2 record as a starter and one of the best passer ratings in school history (162.6).
Wanting to be a full-time starter again, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma in 2019. He took over for Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and thrived in their high-powered offense. That season, he threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting behind Joe Burrow and led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff. By the end of his college career, Hurts had a total of 80 passing touchdowns, 40 rushing touchdowns, and 9,477 passing yards, proving himself as one of the most versatile quarterbacks in college football history.
College Records And Achievements
Hurts set several records during his college career. At Alabama, he had the most passing yards ever by a first-time starting quarterback (287) and the lowest interception rate in a season (0.39% in 2017). He also ranks third in school history for career touchdowns (71) and wins as a starting quarterback (26).
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At Oklahoma, he set the school record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season (1,298) and had the second-highest single-game passing efficiency rating in program history (308.49 against Baylor). On a national level, he became one of only 17 players in FBS history to rush for 40 touchdowns and pass for 40 touchdowns in a career. He also joined an elite group of just 35 quarterbacks to throw for at least 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. Throughout his college career, Hurts played 56 games, and his teams won 51 of them, which shows the importance of his presence on the field for whichever team he plays.
Also Read: Who Are Jalen Hurts’ Parents? Exploring The Family Background Of The Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback
