COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

FBS Notes: Bama’s Tagovailoa may miss spring game

The Sports Xchange

April 14, 2018 at 7:51 pm.

Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) throws the game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith (not pictured) in overtime against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) throws the game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith (not pictured) in overtime against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did not participate in the team’s second spring scrimmage Saturday because of a setback to his injured throwing hand.

The sophomore had surgery on his left hand after breaking a bone in it during spring practice last month. He did participate in last Saturday’s scrimmage.

“You know, Tua had a little setback yesterday with his hand,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said, according to TideSports.com. “Doctors are trying to evaluate the best course of action and what we do with him the remainder of spring. That said, I can’t really tell you any more. He didn’t take any snaps today. He did take a lot of snaps yesterday. We’re going to try to protect this and make sure that this thing is not going to be an issue for him in the fall.”

The Crimson Tide practice twice next week before next Saturday’s annual spring game, which will be televised on ESPN.

–College football will feature a new kickoff rule this season, the NCAA announced.

The modification by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will apply only to fair catches on kickoffs.

If any player on the receiving team signals for a fair catch inside his own 25-yard line, it results in an automatic touchback — the same as if the a player kneeled in the end zone on a kickoff.

Per the previous rule, the ball was spotted at the yard marker where the player signaled for the fair catch. All other aspects of the kickoff rules remain unchanged.

–Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper, who is recovering from testicular cancer, threw a touchdown pass during the last drive of the Orange’s annual spring game.

Culpepper, 20, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in May 2017. He announced last month that his cancer had spread to his abdomen but was treatable and that he expected to return in the fall.

No score was kept in the spring game, but Culpepper went 4 of 4 for 55 yards and the touchdown.

“It just felt surreal,” Culpepper said, according to Syracuse.com. “It was spectacular. I’ll never forget that.”

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