Alabamas Tua Tagovailoa and Central Florida’s McKenzie Milton share a lot more in common than being two of college footballs most prolific quarterbacks in 2018.Both made their mark on college football last year.Tagovailoa helped the CrimsonTide to the College Football Playoffnational title Patrick Peterson Jersey after entering the game at halftime, and Milton led UCF to the FBS’s only undefeated record.To understand how two undercla smen from one of the most remote locations in America managed to deliveron the big stage, one must look at their roots. It all starts in Hawaii, where Milton and Tagovailoa were once youth football teammates for the Waipio Panthers Tagovailoa at quarterback, Milton at running back and receiver.MORE: They would cro s paths again in high school. Milton was a three-year starter for Mililani High School, while Tagovailoa played for Saint Louis School, the same private all-boys school in Honolulu that produced Heisman-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota.Were very supportive of each other but at the same time, we compete, Milton told Sporting News of his relationship with Tagovailoa. I try to hold myself to Tuas standard in the way he plays the game. I think hes one of the best QBs in the country.To those who witne sed their earlysucce s, what Tagovailoa and Milton have accomplished thus farin their college careers is merely history repeating itself.***If Tagovailoa in Alabamas quarterback competition this year, it wont be the first time he seizes the starting spot from the incumbent.Ryder Kuhns was a senior entering the 2014 season at Saint Louis. He started at quarterback the year prior, pa sing for 2,016 yards in eight games in a 6-3 season for the Crusaders. Tagovailoa was set to make his debut on the varsity team as a sophomore that season, though hed already left an indelible impre sion on Vince Pa sas,the programs quarterbacks coach since 1988, years before.Pa sas recalls how, even in elementary school, Tagovailoa would work out with the high school group at his Get Better quarterback clinics. Part of it was because Tagovailoas spirals had too much zip for kids his own age. But for the most part, he was never one to shy away from a challenge.When a 9-year-old guy is dropping a dime from 20-25 yards out, the next (high schooler to throw) has got to be there or youre totally embarra sed in front Patrick Peterson T Shirts of the whole group, Pa sas told SN. He made them get better as well too.Tagovailoa continued to play in leagues above his age and weight group throughout his youth. By the time he was asophomore, he was more than ready to take over the high school ranks. He had waited long enough the year before, when a rule at the time prohibited freshmen in Saint Louis league from playing varsity ball.Kuhns now playing baseball at Cal State Northridge started the 2014 season as the first-string quarterback. Tagovailoa’s play ensured he would bethe starter by the end of the year.***John Kauinana Stadium was filled to capacity for the season-opening game between hometownMililani and visiting Saint Louis on Aug. 16, 2014.Mililani was coming off its first Division I state title game appearance, a 28-22 lo s to Punahou School that came down to the last po se sion. Milton, then a sophomore, threw a game-ending interception with 58 seconds left.That kind of fueled me going into the junior year to bounce back and finish what we started, Milton said. That was a game I was very excited about. I knew Saint Louis always has a lot of hype coming in. I grew up playing with Tua, playing against Tua, and I know he was in a quarterback battle with Ryder Kuhns.Not many could have seen the performance that was about to come.Mililani raced out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead, with Milton accounting for all three of his teams scores. Saint Louis, meanwhile, decided to sub in Tagovailoa for Kuhns after a scorele s first quarter. He responded by throwing three touchdown pa ses of his own.Milton didnt slow down, however, leading Mililani to a comfortable35-20 halftime lead. Kuhns played the third quarter while Tagovailoa played the fourth, throwing two more touchdowns in alosing effort.Mililani 63, Saint Louis 47 Kuhns completed 12 of 22 pa ses with 160 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Saint Louis.Tagovailoa completed 19 of 28 pa ses for five touchdowns and no interceptions, also rushing14 times for 73 yards.When we played Mililani, (Tagovailoa) showed that he had that ability to lead the team, Saint Louis coach Cal Lee told Sporting News. Even though he was a sophomore, it didnt matter. He had that leadership quality that you Andy Isabella Jersey look for in a quarterback.Milton, meanwhile, completed21 of 31 pa ses for 369 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions,adding204 rushing yards and three scores on just nine carries.SaidMililani coach Rod York of the game:If people knew then what we know now,I think wed have to move that game to Aloha Stadium. That game was unbelievable. The fireworks were amazing. I got to go back and look at the tape.The thing about Tua is, he did that in one half.Sound familiar? Tua Tagovailoa rushes for the Saint Louis School Crusaders (Photo courtesy of Honolulu Star-Advertiser). Saint Louis had a quick James Conner Jersey turnaround six days later,taking on national powerhouse St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)at Aloha Stadium.Lee and his staff decided to start Kuhns and rotate Tagovailoa in. For the second straight game, the Crusaders fell behind 21-0. And for the second time in as many games, Tagovailoa got Saint Louis on the board.He completed 10 of 15 pa ses for 137 yards andtwo touchdowns in another losing effort againstSt. John Bosco, led as it was by future first-round NFL Draft pick Josh Rosen, who completed 16 of 25 pa ses for 252 yards and a touchdown. St. John Bosco came away with a 63-14 win.One week later, Saint Louis got crushed by Punahou 55-7. After an 0-3 start, Saint Louis coaches had seen enough.Tagovailoa was named the starter, and the Crusaders won their next six games.When (Tagovailoa) went out there and he competed, after all the scrimmages and preseason games and stuff that we had, it looked like he was the guy that should be running the team, Lee said. It was unfortunate for Ryder but thats competition. I mean, no matter what position you play. You compete.Saint Louis final game of the season was a 35-28 lo s to Punahou thatkept the Crusaders out of the state tournament. Even with their season over, they had found their guy in Tagovailoa, who by then had naturally begun to draw comparisons to Mariota.MORE: Meanwhile, Mililanis dream season continued. The Trojans made it back to the state title game, where a rematch against Punahou awaited them.Milton was sensational again, putting up 421 yards and seven touchdowns on 29-of-47