Jalen Hurts is 24-2, yet is still criticized as Alabama's weak link

— -- If it's true you should dress for the job you want, not the one you already have, Jalen Hurts would wear a monk's robe instead of the jersey of Alabama's starting quarterback. The perpetually stoic sophomore gives the impression that he would rather take a vow of silence than answer questions about his football ability.

Hurts isn't interested in playing the role of the superstar athlete. He's his father's child, living out longtime Texas high school football coach Averion Hurts' motto: "I ain't gonna laugh if it isn't funny. I ain't gonna dance if there ain't no music."

Even his touchdown celebrations aren't for his own enjoyment. Early on during his freshman season, Hurts said, "I'd just score and go, 'Uh, here you go, ref,'" and flip him the ball.

But as he led Alabama to an undefeated regular season, he started getting pressure to reveal more of himself. A Crimson Tide alumnus reached out and told him he needed to see "some sauce."

"You're a cool dude," the former player said. "You got the swag. Just show me something. Give the people a little something."

It wasn't a new critique. When Hurts played for Averion at Channelview High School in Houston, a rival coach once told his father, "Your son is the real deal, but he's got to show other kids emotion so they play harder."

Hurts relented and began the act of brushing off the front of his jersey after rushing touchdowns. Nothing outlandish. Just a quiet show of confidence. He stared straight ahead, wiped himself down and moved along.

"Where did that come from?" Averion asked his son.

"They told me I had to do something," Hurts replied. "That's all I could think of."

Averion laughed and thought of a different conversation he had with Saban about getting Hurts to show his emotions. Ultimately, he had to convince Saban to meet them halfway. "You're going to have to let him be him," Averion said.

And that's someone who's caught between two truths. Hurts' numbers -- 59 touchdowns and 6,442 total yards the past two seasons -- say he's a superstar. But his actions -- or lack thereof -- suggest otherwise.

The moment Alabama lost to Clemson in the national championship game last January, doubt crept in. Now, Hurts has gone from the Next Big Thing to the most criticized 24-2 starting quarterback on the planet.?The back-and-forth is enough to cause whiplash.

"I'm not one to critique him and I understand offense better than 99.99999 percent of the people watching," offensive tackle Jonah Williams said.

If Hurts fought back, maybe things would be different. If he'd planted his flag, as it were, maybe there would be more recognition of what he has achieved, rather than what he has not.?

Instead, on the eve of a rematch with Clemson in the College Football Playoff at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, we're left to wonder what, if anything, Hurts will reveal of himself on the game's biggest stage.

"I have a little swag," he said. "I just got to show it, I guess."

Maybe, if he can beat Clemson and get a national championship ring, he'll have a reason to celebrate.

Then maybe, just maybe, he'll let the world see a little something of who he really is.