Maryland football had a chance to make a splash at quarterback heading into Mike Locksley’s first season as head coach. Once Jalen Hurts announced his transfer from Alabama, Maryland was one of two schools expected to be in play for the now-Super Bowl bound quarterback, but as it turns out Locksley’s former boss played a big role in Hurts landing at Oklahoma. Alabama head coach Nick Saban made headlines this week when asked about Hurts’ transfer process when Maryland and Miami were the preferred destinations. "I said, 'You need to go to Oklahoma. They got the best coach to develop you as a quarterback. And you're going to be around the best players, so that's going to enhance your chances of having success.' He did that," Saban said. That didn’t exactly sit well with Locksley when asked about it. https://twitter.com/MadDogRadio/status/1623060578297081940 “It pissed me off,” Locksley said on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “I wish he would’ve had that same energy when he begged me to stay through recruiting and sign all 12 of those Evan Neals and all those great players. I should’ve taken that approach.” Maryland ultimately found its quarterback when Josh Jackson announced his intent to transfer into the program, where he went on to start in nine games as he and Tyrrell Pigrome split time. Maryland turned back to the transfer portal to find Taulia Tagovailoa, who is now preparing for his fourth season in College Park, but Locksley noted the ‘what if’ had Hurts stuck with his initial feeling. “I know Jalen had a lot of respect for Nick’s opinion. I know dealing with his dad through that process, as well, they knew I had gotten the Maryland job. He came and took an official visit there, Dan ended up taking Miami. He visited both of our programs but I think ultimately, Nick gave him the best advice. He could’ve come to Maryland and done some tremendous things there. There was a familiar system, a familiar offense. I beg to differ that when coach says that he played for the best guy to develop a quarterback because after he finished at Oklahoma that year, when it was time to prepare for the draft, he flew to Maryland for a week and a half to prepare for it but Nick didn’t know that part of it.” Related Links Preview: Maryland basketball looks to stay hot vs. Michigan State Inside the Bag: one-on-one with TBIAF Four-star WR getting comfortable with Maryland, impressed with facilities (+) Maryland entrenched in NCAA Tournament projections, receives votes in AP Poll Maryland in pursuit of DeMatha linemen (+) Maryland jumps in for four-star OT on the west coast (+) Film breakdown: Maryland WR Kaden Prather
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