Only a few weeks removed from high school, Jalen Hurts walked into a critical position.

In his first week on Alabama's campus, Hurts earned the difficult task of imitating Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson in the lead up to the national championship game. He had the speed and body-type to best replicate the magic of the Heisman Trophy finalist, leading Alabama coaches to not hesitate to throw him into the fire right away. Hurts, who left Channelview High School early to enroll at Alabama, quickly learned the college game is different than high school going up against the Tide's stout defensive front in practice.

The 6-foot-2, 212-pound quarterback didn't get to travel to Glendale for the title game, but Alabama head coach Nick Saban said he did a "really, really good job" and credited him as a "real plus for our team to have him there for a few days to be able to have that kind of quickness for us to try to react to." He handled himself well against a defense that will likely have three players taken in the first round of this year's NFL Draft.

The freshman was happy to know he played a small role in Alabama's 45-40 win against Clemson to clinch its 16th national championship.

"I feel I had a part in preparation, yes I did," Hurts said. "I'm not going to sit here and say 'All glory goes to me.' That's definitely not the case. But I felt like I put a toe in."

The willingness to jump right into a stressful situation should serve Hurts during his time in Tuscaloosa. The dual-threat quarterback will compete for the starting role this spring in a crowded, but open competition. Cooper Bateman, last year's backup, and Blake Barnett are the presumed favorites though Hurts and David Cornwell could be in the mix to be Alabama's starter when it opens the season against USC in Dallas.

Hurts could have gone elsewhere and walked into an easier situation, an easier path to becoming the starter. Texas A&M made a heavy late push for the four-star quarterback after a rash of transfers left its quarterback depth depleted. He stuck with his Alabama commitment because he wanted the challenge of proving himself in one of the nation's top programs. He saw the success former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims had in Tuscaloosa under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and thought he could do the same.

"You come to Alabama you have to compete every day in everything you do," he said. "Every day here is an evaluation...you're being evaluated. I have no problem with that. Everything is about competition. You come here; you're going to do what's best for the team. That's being the best player."

After an eventful first week of college, Hurts has started settling into a routine. He's working on building relationships with his teammates and coaches as he prepares for his first spring practice at Alabama. He says his fellow quarterbacks have been great about welcoming him into their group.

It's yet another reason Hurts feels good about his decision to come to Alabama.

"It's a special thing we have here," he said.