Alabama's Hurts forfeits redshirt by entering 5th game

Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts burned his chance to redshirt the 2018 season and save a year of eligibility by entering his fifth game of the season Saturday.

Hurts trotted onto the field late in the first quarter with Alabama up 28-0 on Louisiana-Lafayette. He received a warm ovation from the Tuscaloosa crowd.

Hurts was thought to be a transfer candidate after losing the starting job to Tua Tagovailoa. He led the Crimson Tide to a 26-2 record as the starter from 2016-17.

If he took advantage of the NCAA's new transfer rules and sat out the rest of the season, Hurts would've had two years of eligibility left. He's also on track to graduate before next season, meaning he'll be able to play right away at any school in 2019.

Hurts threw for 276 yards with four touchdowns and one interception over his first four contests of the campaign.