Jalen Hurts is the BamaCentral Crimson Tide Pro Athlete of the Week

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and newly-named team captain put up impressive numbers, but more importantly, led his team to a week one win over Atlanta.

NFL

A national champion and two-year starter for the Crimson Tide, quarterback Jalen Hurts now is the face of an NFL franchise, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the former Alabama player didn't disappoint in his 2021 debut.

Defeating the Atlanta Falcons on the road, 32-6, Hurts completed 27-of-35 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. He didn't throw an interception, either, so by all accounts it was quite the way to began a second-year campaign.

Hurts also tallied 62 rushing yards on seven carries, to bring his total to over 300 yards on the day. 

And just last week he was named a team captain, as voted on by Eagles players, leading up to the team's first game in a place he's fairly comfortable playing in, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where many Crimson Tide fans were for his game-defining performance in Alabama's 2018 SEC Championship matchup to Georgia. 

Hurts has evolved quite a bit as a quarterback since then, though, as evidenced by his numbers through the air in week one, and he's developed into an NFL starter after being questioned at many points in and after college. 

So, there it is ... he's our BamaCentral Crimson Tide Pro Athlete of the Week, and if you watched him play Sunday you'd not doubt why. 

Honorable mention:

• Rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith, also of the Philadelphia Eagles, turned in a solid showing in his first NFL game. He finished with six receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown.

• Fellow rookie, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, also debuted as a pro, but in a loss to the Tua Tagovailoa-led Miami Dolphins. Still, Jones completed 29-of-39 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown. 

Previous winners in 2021:

Dec. 29 - Jan. 5 Derrick Henry

Jan. 6 - 12 Daron Payne

Jan. 13 - 19 Levi Wallace

Jan. 20 - 26 Collin Sexton

Jan. 27 - Feb. 2. JaMychal Green

Feb. 3 - 9 Collin Sexton

Feb. 9 - 16 Kira Lewis Jr.

Feb. 17 - 23 Levi Randolph

Feb. 24 - March 2 Collin Sexton

March 3 - 9 Collin Sexton

March 10 - 16 Justin Thomas

March 17 - 23 Collin Sexton

March 24 - 30 JaMychal Green

March 31 - April 6 Collin Sexton

April 7 - April 13 Collin Sexton

April 14 - April 20 Levi Randolph

April 21 - April 27 Collin Sexton

April 28 - May 4 Davis Riley

May 5 - May 11 Collin Sexton

May 12 - May 18 Dicky Pride

May 19 - May 25 Spencer Turnbull

May 26 - June 1 Alexa Guarachi

June 2 - June 8 Kenzie Wright

June 9 - June 15 Eryk Anders

June 16 - June 22 Daniel Haugh

June 23 - June 29 Daniel Haugh

June 30 - July 7 Emma Talley

July 7 - July 13 Blake Sims

July 14 - July 20 Brett Auerbach

July 21 - July 27 Haylie McCleney

July 28 - Aug. 3 Kirani James

Aug. 4 - Aug. 10 Remona Burchell

Aug. 11 - Aug. 17 Kira Lewis

Aug. 18 - Aug. 24 Steven Setterstrom

Aug. 25 - Aug. 31 Mac Jones

Sept. 1 - Sept. 7 Justin Thomas