Tua Tagovailoa Monday became the third product of a Hawaii high school to be named a finalist for the prestigious Heisman Trophy but does so now as a slight underdog to take home the iconic bronze statue.
Tagovailoa, a Saint Louis School graduate, will join fellow quarterbacks Kyler Murray of Oklahoma and Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State on Saturday in New York, where the winner of the 84th Heisman will be announced.
“This is an elite trio of quarterbacks and we are excited to host them in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony,” said Rob Whalen, executive director of the Heisman Trophy Trust.
Although the Heisman, which represents the outstanding college football player, has been awarded since 1944, it has only designated finalists since 1982, when the first group was Herschel Walker, John Elway and Eric Dickerson.
Previous to that only the winner was invited to New York.
Manti Te’o, the 2012 runner-up from Punahou and Notre Dame, and Marcus Mariota, the 2014 winner from Saint Louis and Oregon, were Hawaii’s only invitees since 1982. Herman Wedemeyer of Saint Louis and St. Mary’s finished fourth in 1945 and sixth in 1946.
The University of Hawaii’s Colt Brennan was an invitee in 2007, finishing third.
Tagovailoa, who had been listed as a favorite to win the award by oddsmakers since early September, was second in odds posted Monday by online sportsbook Bovada behind Murray before the finalists were announced. Tagovailoa is a 3/2 pick compared to Murray’s 1/2. Haskins is 60/1.
After Tagovailoa led the nation all season in passing efficiency, he struggled in Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia, completing 10 of 25 passes for one touchdown and 164 yards and two interceptions before being forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
The sophomore underwent surgery Monday for the injury, according to media reports, and is expected back for the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Oklahoma in the Dec. 29 Orange Bowl, coach Nick Saban has said.
Murray, a redshirt junior who has signed a $4.66 million contract to play baseball in the Oakland A’s system next season, completed 25 of 34 passes for 379 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Sooners’ victory over Texas for the Big 12 championship.
Haskins, a sophomore, is the Big Ten offensive player of the year and was the most valuable player in the conference’s championship game, completing 31 of 41 passes for 499 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
