Great leaders are not defined when things are flowing perfectly.
Success and admiration come easily without friction. Friction pulls something different from you.
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It forces one to dig deeper within themselves and others. Some are broken by pressure, but others use pressure to become legendary. Nothing provides more pressure than a quarterback competition at the University of Alabama.
We have seen good ones in the Nick Saban era, and a new one is brewing. Blake Sims (2014) and Jalen Hurts (2016) were involved in three of the most highly publicized races for the Crimson Tide. Sims embraced the pressure from fans and the media, guiding Alabama to a Southeastern Conference Championship, setting single-season school records for passing yards and total touchdowns, and advancing the Tide to a berth in the inaugural College Football Playoff. As a true freshman, Hurts was prepared for the moment against the University of Southern California to open the 2016 season. He beat out Blake Barnett, earned several individual accolades, pushed Alabama to an SEC Championship, and nearly captured a CFP National Championship.
Jalen Milroe, a redshirt sophomore, is in an interesting position.
The native Texan is in a race where some believe he is the best option while others do not. He carries valuable experience from 2022 against Arkansas and Texas A&M. Milroe got his first start versus the Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He lost two fumbles and tossed an interception; however, he also threw three touchdowns — assisting Alabama to a 24-20 victory. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has all the athleticism in the world, but Tide fans want to see the passing element of his game become effective.
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Brad Stanfield, a professional quarterback coach in Texas, is excited to see what Milroe does.
The Stanfield Quarterback Group is a training facility in Dallas, Austin, and Houston, Texas.
Coach Stanfield works with quarterbacks in college football and the National Football League. He has been an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for 15+ years, but he gets excited when people discuss Milroe with him. He’s known the former four-star since 2013 when Milroe was in the seventh grade. Stanfield saw something different about Milroe then.
“I trained with many kids, but Jalen was the most impressive to me,” Stanfield said. “He had this intensity, focus, drive, and motor as a seventh grader. When I got him, I told him ‘I am going to coach you like you are at Alabama.'”
Alabama fans want to have proof of everything.
In quarterbacks, they want you to prove you have leadership, communication skills, accuracy, arm strength, ball placement, and the ability to read defenses. Some are unsure if Milroe has these capabilities, but Stanfield sees a marquee season for his guy.
“I think that will be evident,” Stanfield said about Milroe showing the nation what he has. “I hope he can show these old heads he embodies what Nick Saban does.”
Stanfield said what impresses him about Milroe is how he talks to others, encourages others, gets the best out of others, and has those around him wanting to follow him. Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft, recognized Milroe as a ‘real one’ with Stanfield during his first encounter with the young quarterback. Stanfield loves Milroe’s physical tools, but he compared his mindset to the first leader of Alabama football in the Saban era. He sees a lot of Rolando McClain in Milroe.
McClain was a vocal and passionate leader from 2007 to 2009. He got Alabama’s defense and team as a whole ready to play as a middle linebacker with his pregame speeches. McClain led by example, but everyone listened when he spoke. His mentality guided the program to its first national championship since 1992 in 2009 and the first national title of the Saban era.
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Stanfield said Milroe is from the same cloth.
“Alabama is Alabama because of the way they do things,” he said. ” It is how they practice, how they approach things, and how they maximize every day. That is old Alabama, but at the core, it is what makes Alabama. Jalen has those values. I would be shocked if he is not a verbal leader. I would be shocked if he does not have the team rolling with him because that’s who he is.”
Stanfield worked with Milroe through his junior year of high school, but he wonders why people question his throwing ability.
“The dude is an elite thrower and has been,” Stanfield said. “I have seen him make every throw and if he is confident, then I am confident. He can put the ball where he wants it.”
Stanfield, like most Alabama fans, was not the biggest fan of Bill O’Brien as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
He is pumped up to see what Tommy Rees does for Milroe in coming from Notre Dame.
“When they [Alabama] went and got Tommy Rees and not somebody from the NFL, I knew they were setting this up for Jalen,” Stanfield said. “Rees made his money at Notre Dame with Ian Book. He had an athlete that can run and throw, and he was able to tweak up things for the quarterback. Alabama needs to let Jalen develop. He is cut from a different cloth. He is a real one.”
Rees and Book took Notre Dame to CFP appearances in 2018 and 2020. Book produced his finest season for the Fighting Irish in 2019 with 3,034 passing yards, 546 rushing yards, and 38 total touchdowns (34 touchdown passes).
Stanfield was a coach on Alabama’s staff in 2007 and 2008. He studied Alabama’s 2009 BCS National Championships team.
He knew John Parker Wilson was more talented, but the team chemistry and leadership were there with Greg McElroy. He sees the same situation with Milroe, as someone who starts his workouts every day at 4 to 5 a.m. Stanfield said Milroe has ‘that fiber,’ and his mentality led Tompkins High School to a district championship over Katy High School in Texas.
“Jalen had three touchdown passes against Texas A&M,” Stanfield said. “Everything is not going to be perfect, I don’t expect roses, but I believe in this kid. Alabama fans are going to be proud of Milroe. I expect him to run this thing to Houston and win a national championship back home.”
Stanfield trained Sam Ehlinger (Colts), Davis Webb (Giants), Will Grier (Cowboys), Jarrett Stidham (Broncos), Clayton Tune (Cardinals), and Shane Buechele (Chiefs) who are in the National Football League. He is working with Connor Weigman (Texas A&M), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), and Hudson Card (Purdue). Stanfield sees Milroe as someone that won’t let the team down.
He brings an old-school Alabama feel, and fans need to get behind Milroe.
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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.
