Tua Tagovailoa is the quarterback of Miami Dolphins fans' dreams, which is fitting, because his greatness and fame came to his grandfather in a vision back when Tua was just a tot.
Long before the ukulele-strummin', beach-vibin', record-breakin' icon became the biggest college football star since Tim Tebow and probably the most-hyped Dolphins draft pick ever, Tuanigamanuolepola Tagovailoa _ or Tua, thankfully, for short _ was a football-crazed kid from Hawaii who slept with a football under his arm.
Tua's "Papa" Seu Tagovailoa had 28 grandchildren, but only one he dreamed would someday, as Sports Illustrated reported in late 2018, would go on to greatness and that his name "will be known all over the world."
Seu, sadly, passed before his prophecy came true. Even he might be surprised how right he turned out to be.
Tagovailoa isn't just in the conversation for greatest college football quarterback of all time.
He's also a cultural phenomenon, a perfect combination of talent, charisma and timing.
Tagovailoa was the best player at the best college football program in the country. Alabama, led by former Dolphins coach Nick Saban, produced another four first-round picks _ and nine draft selections in all _ in 2020, but none produced a fraction of the national attention as Tua, whom the Dolphins took with the fifth pick.
"Every team needs a building block, and every fan base needs a jolt after years of mediocrity," said Miami-based brand guru Tadd Schwartz, owner of Schwartz Media Strategies. "A first-round quarterback may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Is Tua a once-in-a-generation talent? Maybe; it's too soon to tell. But he's got the pedigree coming from Alabama, the college stat line and championship chops, the unforgettable name, and the comeback story after being carted off the field last year with a career-threatening injury. All of that makes for a compelling story that fans can rally around."
Tagovailoa also has nearly 700,000 Instagram followers, and effortlessly uses the platform to drive local and national coverage. Dolphins fans went nuts in January when Tagovailoa shared images of him in South Beach; he did the same this week when he teased his jersey number reveal.
Tagovailoa can't wear his college number, 13, in Miami. That jersey belonged to Hall of Famer Dan Marino and will never be worn again.
