Most people who play competitive sports like to be known as athletes. For Tua Tagovailoa, it was a label to shed … or, more accurately, to supplement.

Saint Louis’ third-year starter emerged as one of the most high-profile high school quarterbacks in the nation this month. He followed up committing to Alabama last spring with MVP honors at the Elite 11 camp and “The Opening” 7-on-7 tournament in Los Angeles featuring top prospects from the class of 2017.

Now, the nation knows what Hawaii already did: Tagovailoa is a legit dual threat. He’s a quarterback who can run, not a runner playing quarterback.

It’s back to the grind as the Crusaders prep for his senior season. He’s still making all the eye-popping throws, but they’re at the Saint Louis practice field …

The quarterback who seems like he’s been there forever lofts the ball high and deep as players run end-of-practice gassers. The pass falls perfectly into Chandler Washington-Villanueva’s hands as he strides to the end of the 50-yard cross-field run.

When the receiver lines up again, the quarterback asks: “You got one more in you?” He does, and they do it again. Perfect route. Perfect throw. Perfect catch.

On the other end of the line, Tagovailoa is running too; his passing for the day is done, and it was his position coach, Vinny Passas, tossing the aerials to Washington-Villanueva.

“If he works hard, they’ll work hard too,” Passas says. “Tua has initiative and he’s doing all the right things. … I’m struggling with finding ways to get him better.”

Earlier in the summer, Tagovailoa and many other Saint Louis players gathered daily near his home in Ewa Beach to work on passing and receiving — and in Tagovailoa’s case, dropping back and passing from the pocket.

“It really wasn’t that new to me, because it’s what I did (in youth leagues),” he says.

All the national attention, though, is something he’s had to get used to.

“I’ve changed my phone number four times,” he says. “Just the whole process has been something surreal. Trying to handle everything has been difficult at times, but my parents help me screen calls. Overall I consider it a blessing.”

And, now, his brother, Taulia, a sophomore quarterback at Kapolei, also has an offer from Alabama. That might solidify what Tua already says is his own firm commitment to the Tide — although he still plans to visit USC, UCLA and perhaps other schools.

“This is the only time I’m going to do this, so I want to enjoy the process,” says Tua, who also says he understands taking the visits makes other coaches think he can be swayed.

Passas says he was surprised by the Alabama commitment. “Honestly, I thought it’d be too boring an offense for him. But he has aspirations for the NFL, and that can get him closer. I don’t think anything is too big for him. He’ll get better. He gets better with competition.”

As big as he’s become nationally, Tagovailoa still has business to take care of at home. Saint Louis has not won a state championship since 2010 (Marcus Mariota’s senior season), and the Crusaders were soundly beaten by Kahuku 39-14 in last year’s title game.

“It’s not like the ILH where you get another chance (in the same season),” Tagovailoa says. “It’s one-and-done. And we weren’t the one. We were the done.”

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quickreads.