Jalen Hurts growing into starting quarterback role

It's tough watching kids grow up.

Same with quarterbacks.

Jalen Hurts is just a freshman, but on Saturday he became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the University of Alabama since 1984.

Which means he has to grow up pretty quickly.

The rookie from Channelview, Texas, took a step forward in his maturity process in leading the Crimson Tide to a 38-10 victory over Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He completed 23 of 36 pass attempts for 287 yards and two touchdowns, and didn't turn the ball over.

And while he played the majority of the way, with Blake Barnett getting a couple of series in the first half and a bit of mop-up duty at the end, it doesn't sound like Hurts has yet wowed head coach Nick Saban.

"I thought Jalen did OK, missed a couple of throws. Made some good decisions, had some guys open that we didn't hit," the coach said.

The Hilltoppers challenged Hurts, stacking the box with defenders to take away the run.

"If the quarterback can beat us throwing it, then that's how it's going to be," Saban said, summing up Western Kentucky's approach.

So that's what Hurts did. The 'Toppers even limited his impact in the running game, holding him to 19 yards on 11 carries, sacking him twice, but he showed poise in the pocket – and when escaping it.

He rolled to his left in the first quarter and hit Calvin Ridley for 51 yards. But what may have given the best glimpse into his growth was the way he stood tall to check down on a 9-yard pass to tight end O.J. Howard on the last play of the first quarter, and how he threw a laser-guided missile to Howard for a 20-yard gain to set up a touchdown later in the first half.

Hurts also failed to see a couple of receivers running open, and was victimized by two dropped passes that would have been sure touchdowns and a scoring pass that was called back for a holding penalty.

He also had a disastrous series that ended on a fourth-and-38 punt after a holding call and two sacks.

Through it all, he didn't flinch.

"He's very mature," offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman said. "He stands in the pocket, he takes control. It's his team at that point."

In the second half, Hurts seemed to read the field a little better and look to receivers on shorter routes who were open rather than hoping for a deep pass to develop.

Saban noted that Hurts needs better support. And while the division of playing time seemed to indicate that UA has settled on its quarterback, the coach wasn't ready after the game to make a pronouncement.

"I think we need to watch the film before we made that decision," Saban said. "I think the people around him, whoever's the quarterback, need to play better."

Saban said he's more concerned about the team getting better than he is picking a quarterback.

"Whoever it is, they need to improve," the coach said.That's the way it is with kids.

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0224.