Rick Stockstill entered his season opener as head coach wanting Middle Tennessee State to be competitive, but he came away more impressed by Jalen Milroe’s performance for the Crimson Tide.
Milroe earned the start at quarterback for Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium against the Blue Raiders.
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He displayed poise, confidence, and leadership from his first touchdown. After making a broken play look beautiful, Milroe totaled another rushing touchdown and showed accuracy on deep passes. His three scoring tosses went for 20+ yards, including a pair of 40+ yard touchdown passes to wide receivers Isaiah Bond and Jermaine Burton. He finished the matchup with five touchdowns, tying him for fourth all-time in school history for most scores accounted for in a single game. Milroe set an Alabama school record for being the first quarterback to post three touchdown passes and two touchdown runs in the same game.
Coach Stockstill called Milroe ‘special’ during his postgame presser.
“I was very impressed with their quarterback,” Stockstill said about Milroe. “He is very dynamic with his feet, throws the ball well, and has great touch. I think he is going to have a special year for them (Alabama). He was really good.”
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Milroe completed 13 of 18 passes for 194 yards and had 48 yards rushing with five scores.
He now turns his attention to a contest with the Texas Longhorns.
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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.
