Tagovailoa brothers are ‘dreammates’ in NFL Draft ad

Alabama quarterbacks Taulia Tagovailoa (5) and Tua Tagovailoa warm up before an SEC game against Ole Miss

Alabama quarterbacks Taulia Tagovailoa (5) and Tua Tagovailoa warm up before an SEC game against Ole Miss on Sept. 28, 2019, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Former Thompson High School quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is hoping to hear his name next week during the NFL Draft, as his brother, Tua Tagovailoa, did in 2020, when the Miami Dolphins took him at No. 5.

According to an advertisement in conjunction with the NFL Draft, Tua has been more than an example to Taulia; he’s been a “dreammate.”

“Just watching the way you carry the name, you paved the way for me,” Taulia Tagovailoa says in the commercial from Rocket Mortgage. “… A dreammate is someone that believes in you before you believe in yourself, so you’re my dreammate.”

In a press release in advance of the ad’s debut, Tagovailoa said the reverse was true, too.

“As someone who used to sleep with a football under my arm as a kid, I have always dreamed of making a career out of this sport,” Tua Tagovailoa said. “My wildest dreams have come true thanks to the unwavering support and inspiration of my biggest supporter and ‘dreammate’ – my little brother Taulia. His encouragement and belief in me fueled my determination to fearlessly chase my passion. I hope to be the same inspiration for him as he enters the next chapter in his football career.”

The brothers were teammates at Alabama in 2019. Both left after that season – Tua in the NFL Draft and Taulia as a transfer.

Taulia Tagovailoa had been Alabama’s Class 7A Back of the Year in 2017 and 2018 at Thompson, but he threw only 12 passes at Alabama before leaving for Maryland. With the Terrapins, the younger Tagovailoa became the Big Ten’s career passing leader with 11,256 yards.

Taulia Tagovailoa planned to play another college season in 2024. He entered the NCAA transfer portal and filed a waiver for a sixth season of eligibility.

In his single season at Alabama, Tagovailoa played in five games, one more than the limit for a redshirt season. The waiver request noted Tagovailoa played only four snaps in two of the games. Because the rules to deal with the coronavirus pandemic don’t count the 2020 season in eligibility, Tagovailoa could have played again in 2014 if 2019 could have been considered a redshirt year.

The NCAA turned down his request, and the Maryland QB is now draft-eligible.

The 89th NFL Draft will be held April 25-27 in Detroit.

In his fourth NFL season, Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards, made his playoff debut and went to the Pro Bowl Games.

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The Rocket Mortgage dreammate campaign also will feature Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and his sisters and mother, and sportscasters Joy Taylor and Taylor Rooks.

In conjunction with the ads, each time the hashtag #RocketDremmate appears on TikTok or Instagram through the end of the NFL Draft on April 27, Rocket Mortgage will make a $10 contribution to Habitat for Humanity up to $250,000.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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