Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa said he could've made "crazy money" had he decided to join a different program this past offseason, according to The Athletic's Audrey Snyder.
Tagovailoa, brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua, said he was offered $1.5 million to transfer to an unnamed SEC team this year.
"It can be eye-opening, but I think for my situation, if ... I didn't have a brother in the NFL or maybe my parents, it'd be a different situation," Tagovailoa said of the offer.
Before deciding to return for his senior season at Maryland, Tagovailoa consulted with Tua, who played at Alabama from 2017-19 prior to being drafted fifth overall in 2020.
With student-athletes now allowed to profit off their name, image, and likeness, players have entered the transfer portal at an all-time high rate in recent years.
"It would be hard for me to go to another place and not be happy but have all the money in the world," Tagovailoa said. "(I'd rather) be at a place where maybe I don't have as much, but I'm happy and I'm here to work."
Tagovailoa began his college career at Alabama in 2019 before transferring to Maryland in 2020. He has started the last two seasons for the Terrapins and is their all-time passing leader with 7,879 yards and 51 touchdowns.
