There’s a new twist to the Music City Bowl between Auburn and Maryland.
Terrapins starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the brother of Alabama legend Tua Tagovailoa, has decided to opt out of the game in order to begin preparation for the NFL Draft.
“We certainly thank Taulia and his family for all he’s given this program over the last four years. Like all positions, it’s next man up,” Maryland head coach Mike Locksley stated on Tagovailoa’s decision not to play in the game.
This season, Tagovailoa, who transferred to Maryland from Alabama in 2020, became the Big 10’s all-time passing yards leader with 11,256 yards.
Tagovailoa played his senior year of high school football at Thompson High School in Alabaster where he was the only quarterback in state history to have at least four 400-yard passing performances in his career.
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He led the Thompson Warriors to a Class 7A state championship in 2018.
Auburn was already a slight favorite by about two points, but that line has jumped up to six after the news broke.
Stepping in for Tagovailoa will be redshirt sophomore Billy Edwards, who only attempted 10 passes this season but was able to rush for six touchdowns on the ground.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
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