Jalen Hurts' most memorable moments at Alabama

Jalen Hurts' time at Alabama officially came to an end Wednesday, when he announced that he was transferring to Oklahoma for his final season of eligibility.

Still, it's been an eventful run for native Texan, who leaves the Crimson with a national championship ring and a 26-2 record as starting quarterback. He's had some ups-and-downs, but is likely to go down as one of the most beloved players in Alabama football history. And of course, his departure will change up next year's projected depth chart.

Here are 17 memorable moments in Hurts' time at Alabama:

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June 5, 2015 --- Turning Crimson

Hurts committed to Alabama during the summer before his senior season at Channelview High School in Houston, choosing the Crimson Tide over Texas A&M and Mississippi State, among other programs. He joined a 2016 Alabama signing class ranked No. 1 nationally, a group that also included Mack Wilson, Jonah Williams, Raekwon Davis, Quinnen Williams and Josh Jacobs, among others.

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April 18, 2016 --- Lighting it up on A-Day

Despite being a true freshman, Hurts was the talk of spring practice in 2016, and introduced himself to the world before a national television audience in the A-Day Game. Hurts completed 11 of 15 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for 23 yards, outshining veteran quarterbacks such as Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell and Blake Barnett.

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Sept. 3, 2016 --- A sparkling debut

Hurts didn't start Alabama's season opener vs. USC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (that honor went to Barnett), but he was the best quarterback on the field for either team. Despite fumbling on his first snap, Hurts finished the game with 118 yards and two touchdowns passing, plus two more rushing touchdowns, in a 52-6 Crimson Tide rout of the Trojans.

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Sept. 10, 2016 --- Seizing the starting job

Hurts' first career start came the following week against Western Kentucky, a game in which the Crimson Tide breezed to a 38-10 victory. Hurts managed just 19 yards rushing, but was outstanding as a passer, finishing 23-for-36 for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He was the first Alabama true freshman to start a game at quarterback since Vince Sutton in 1984.

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Nov. 5, 2016 --- Quieting the crowd in Death Valley

Alabama and LSU were locked in a defensive stalemate in Tiger Stadium, scoreless through three quarters. The Crimson Tide finally got on the board with 13:08 to play, when Hurts burst through the Tigers' defense for a 21-yard touchdown. Unbeaten Alabama later added a field goal to win 10-0.

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Nov. 12, 2016 --- A true two-way threat

After winning the LSU game largely with his legs, Hurts proved to be an all-around threat vs. Mississippi State a week later. In a 51-3 Alabama win, Hurts passed for 347 yards and four touchdowns, and also ran for 100 yards and a score, becoming the first Crimson Tide player to break the 300-100 threshold in a single game.

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Dec. 7, 2016 --- Best in the SEC

Hurts became the first true freshman in 36 years to be named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, joining Georgia's Herschel Walker in 1980 in that prestigious group. He finished his freshman year with 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns passing, plus 950 yards and 13 scores rushing.

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Jan. 9, 2017 --- Not quite good enough

Hurts struggled as a passer in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Clemson, completing just 13 of 31 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown as Alabama lost 35-31. However, Hurts' 30-yard touchdown run with 2:07 remaining gave the Crimson Tide a 31-28 lead the defense couldn't hold.

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Sept. 16, 2017 --- Off and rolling as a sophomore

Hurts and the Crimson Tide dominated in the early-going in 2017, with Hurts posting one of the best games of his career in Week 3 vs. Colorado State. In a 41-23 victory, Hurts completed 12 of 17 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns, and also added 103 yards and a TD rushing.

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Sept. 30, 2017 --- An historic rout

Alabama posted its most points in an SEC game in 38 years in a Saturday night tilt with Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa, winning 66-3 in a game that might not have been even that close. Hurts passed for 197 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 101 yards and a score as the Crimson Tide rolled up 613 yards of total offense.

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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Jan. 8, 2018 --- A championship teammate

Alabama trailed 13-0 at halftime of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Georgia, with Hurts having completed just 3 of 8 passes for 21 yards. Nick Saban pulled Hurts in favor of Tua Tagovailoa, who led the Crimson Tide to a 26-23 victory in overtime. Among the first to embrace Tagovailoa after the game was Hurts, the man who had just lost his job on national television.

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April 19, 2018 --- Father knows worst?

After Tagovailoa had led Alabama's championship comeback vs. Georgia, speculation ran rampant that Hurts would transfer prior to the 2018 season. Hurts' father and high school coach, Averion, fueled that fire when he told Bleacher Report that his son would be "be the biggest free agent in college football history" if he didn't win the starting job vs. Tagovailoa.

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Aug. 4, 2018 --- Speaking his mind

Jalen Hurts was not permitted to speak to the media during the entire offseason, but was finally able to vent his frustrations during the Crimson Tide's preseason media day. In an emotional exchange with reporters, Hurts said he had never considered transferring from Alabama, and planned to stick around at least until graduation in December.

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Sept. 29, 2018 --- Sticking around after all

Tagovailoa won the starting job in preseason camp, leading to more speculation that Hurts might take advantage of the NCAA's new redshirt rule and cut his 2018 season short after four games to preserve a year of eligibility. But that all ended when Hurts took the field late in the first quarter of a 56-14 win over Louisiana, thus playing in his fifth game of the season. The crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium gave him a thunderous ovation.

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Dec. 1, 2018 --- Redemption, and another championship

Hurts' hero's journey came full circle in the SEC championship game vs. Georgia, when he replaced a gimpy Tagovailoa with Alabama down 28-21 in the fourth quarter. Hurts led two touchdown drives --- throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy to tie the game, then giving Alabama the lead for good with a 15-yard rushing touchdown as the Crimson Tide won the SEC title 35-28 and advanced to the College Football Playoff.

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Dec. 15, 2018 --- Graduation day

Two weeks after leading the Crimson Tide to the SEC title, Hurts picked up his degree in public relations during Alabama's winter commencement ceremony at Coleman Coliseum. With more than 20 family members in the crowd, Hurts received a standing ovation when his name was called and he walked across the stage to get his diploma.

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Jan. 16, 2019 --- Moving on to Oklahoma

After visiting Maryland, Miami and Oklahoma last weekend, Hurts announced where he would play his senior season in a letter to Alabama fans posted on The Players Tribune. In casting his lot with the Sooners, Hurts promised the Crimson Tide would always be in his heart, writing 'It's been a great three years. I'll love you until the end of time!'"

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