He is in a familiar situation as former Alabama quarterbacks Blake Sims and Mac Jones, but he is embracing it.
Jalen Milroe is in a space to prove himself right and his naysayers wrong. He is not Bryce Young, but the native Texan has a unique way of making plays. Crimson Tide fans saw his skill set in 2022 against Arkansas when he replaced an injured Young.
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Milroe ran away from defenders, totaling 91 rushing yards, 65 passing yards, and two touchdowns.
He kept Alabama in rhythm, earning a 49-26 victory over the Razorbacks. The experience on the road helped him when the Tide returned to Bryant-Denny Stadium to face Texas A&M. Milroe got his first start, and though he had three turnovers, he recorded three passing touchdowns to pace Alabama’s 24-20 victory. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has looked great in spring practice.
He tossed an exemplary touchdown pass to wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks in practice. It appears that Milroe has worked on his accuracy and ball placement because his pass to Brooks was placed in the perfect spot, despite great coverage from Kool-Aid McKinstry. He will be an elite quarterback in the Southeastern Conference if he continues this progression, but Brooks is seeing something special in Milroe. Both came as four stars in the 2021 class. Brooks said Wednesday that Milroe is ‘becoming a leader.’
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“He is stepping up big time for us,” Brooks said about Milroe. “He’s making good reads out there in practice.”
Brooks has seen Milroe in his maturation process. Todd McVey, Milroe’s head coach at Katy High School, said in a recent segment from In My Own Words, that Milroe is ‘locked in’ for this season. His maturity level is where it needs to be for this team.
People doubted Blake Sims in 2014 and Mac Jones in 2020, but both had incredible years as starters.
Sims set a school single-season record for passing yards (3,487) and total touchdowns (35) in 2014, leading Alabama to a Southeastern Conference Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. Jones earned a single-season school record for passing yards (4,500) and touchdown passes (41) in 2020. He took the Tide to an SEC Championship and an undefeated CFP National Championship. Jones became a Heisman Trophy finalist, Consensus All-American, and a first-round NFL Draft pick.
We will see how Milroe answers his critics.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
