TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an easy interception into the hands of cornerback Trevon Diggs to put an end to the first-team offense's final drive of the annual A-Day spring game.
It was that kind of scrimmage for Hurts and his White team. Hurts completed 19-of-37 pass attempts for 195 yards and that one interception. More importantly, his offense was kept out of the end zone the entire game.
"I was not disappointed in the way (Hurts) played," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I think we have got some guys that can rush a little bit, and even though we were rushing four guys most of the time, there was way too much pressure in the pocket for the quarterback to be able to operate like we would like."
Hurts was the lone quarterback under the microscope Saturday, but it's unlikely to stay that way. Come fall, the junior will once again share the stage with his competition for the starting job, Tua Tagovailoa, who was forced to watch from the sideline with an injury as the offense struggled.
"I think (Hurts) made some good plays in the game and made some good throws," Saban said. "Obviously, I'm sure if you talked to him he would say, 'There's things that I wish I could have done better and would improve on.'"
It was different this time for Tagovailoa, however. The national championship game hero was not backing up Hurts.
Instead, Tagovailoa was nursing an injured throwing hand that has limited him for most of the spring practice schedule. The Hawaiian looked as if he was going to play in the spring game despite the injury, but suffered a setback in his recovery one week before the game.
The injury was disappointing for Saban and the rest of the Crimson Tide, but it's only a small hindrance in the grand scheme of the quarterback competition. Saban has made it clear from the start of the spring that the decision on the starting quarterback will not be rushed, and the choice will likely come closer to the Crimson Tide's season opener.
Both Hurts and Tagovailoa have proven to be worthy competitors for the job: Hurts is 26-2 as a starter and Tagovailoa came off the bench to help the Tide win the College Football Playoff championship game against Georgia last seasons. But only one can start. Would the loser of the quarterback competition transfer?