VIDEO: Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Hilinski Share Special Moment After Alabama Played South Carolina

Sometimes, things are bigger than football. Despite a valiant effort from a true freshman quarterback in Ryan Hilinski, South Carolina was defeated 47-23 by Tua Tagovailoa and Alabama on Saturday. Following the game, Tua shared a long embrace with an obviously emotional Hilinski, who is the brother of late Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski, after his second collegiate start.

While most young quarterbacks turtle up when faced with Alabama's scary defense, Hilinski excelled, going 36-57 for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Against Saban's defense, those numbers are astonishing from any quarterback, let alone a true freshman who only had one career start against an FCS team before facing the Tide.

It's clear that Ryan is still carrying the memory of Tyler with him, and he's playing some inspired football for the Gamecocks.

Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow might be headed to the NFL after this year, but the SEC will be in more than good hands for the next few years on the backs of young quarterbacks like Hilinski.