Redemption is a subject Jalen Hurts is aware of intimately on and off the court docket.
The Philadelphia Eagles star was the beginning quarterback at Alabama earlier than finally dropping his job and transferring to Oklahoma. With that setback in school, Hurts has now led his professional staff to the Tremendous Bowl, soccer's greatest stage, the place the Eagles will face the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Feb. 12.
Whereas the story could also be a fairy story kind ending for Hurts, it’s the redemption he discovered by way of Jesus Christ that gave him the inspiration for his life.
“I perceive that God put these obstacles and challenges in my life for a cause,” Hurts wrote in a Gamers Tribune article after saying his departure from Alabama. “He needed me to really feel the ache I felt for a cause. He needed me to know the significance of by no means dropping religion – and at all times staying true to your self. He didn't deliver me this far simply to go away me there.”
A heralded highschool recruit from Texas, Hurts made an instantaneous influence with the Crimson Tide, successful SEC Offensive Participant of the 12 months and SEC Freshman of the 12 months awards as Alabama's beginning quarterback and main the staff to the nationwide title sport (dropping to Clemson).
Sharing the highlight
The subsequent yr, as a sophomore, Hurts was once more instrumental in getting Alabama to the nationwide title sport after upsetting Clemson within the first spherical of the playoffs. Nonetheless, Hurts struggled within the first half towards SEC rival Georgia. With Alabama trailing 13–0 at halftime, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban determined to bench Hurts in favor of the rookie. Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa led a second-half comeback that gave Alabama the nationwide title.
However for Hurts, regardless of his success, his future with the staff appeared unsure. Tagovailoa remained the staff's starter for many of the 2018 season and completed second in Heisman Trophy voting that yr. Hurts stepped in in the course of the SEC Championship Sport towards Georgia that yr when Tagovailoa was injured, sparking a 35–28 Alabama victory, however Hurts' time with the staff was practically over.
He transferred to Oklahoma the next season and excelled, ending second within the Heisman Trophy voting earlier than being chosen by the Eagles within the second spherical of the NFL Draft.
An enormous success
This season, Hurts' second full yr because the beginning quarterback, was an enormous success. The Eagles completed 14–3 and made the playoffs to earn a spot within the Tremendous Bowl.
“I simply got here of age and realized that God is the whole lot and deserves the reward,” Hurts stated in a CBS Sports activities article. “You will need to put Him on the middle of the whole lot you do. I imagine that. All of my non secular knowledge—all of my knowledge as an entire—comes from Him, indirectly, form, or kind, whether or not it's handed down from my father, my mom, my grandmother. I simply assume that in all of the issues we expertise in life – good, dangerous or detached – you must preserve him on the middle.
In a GQ Sports activities video the place Hurts lists the ten issues he can't dwell with out, his every day devotions and his journal have been included.
“Stroll by the Spirit”
“It's actually essential to me as a result of I'm a person of God,” Hurts stated within the video. “To get up each morning and have a routine the place I can get some knowledge and be taught his Phrase and simply stroll by the Spirit. I attempt for this every day and problem myself to unfold the Phrase organically.”
In his Gamers Tribune article thanking the Alabama soccer program and its followers following his switch to Oklahoma, Hurts was specific about his Christian religion.
“Not everybody will get the possibility to be a job mannequin on this life,” Hurts wrote. “And that's why I'm on this mission: to be one of the best participant, chief and man I may be. I do know that the whole lot will unfold in accordance with God's timing. I’m blessed to be the place my ft are; my belief is in his palms.”
