He was a long shot for most Alabama fans and media pundits to win the starting quarterback job for Alabama football, but Jalen Milroe has the Crimson Tide in the driver’s seat for a Southeastern Conference Championship.
It has not been easy as a first-year starter; however, the sophomore has grown each week. Whether it is in leadership, accurate passing, or decision-making, the native Texan has done something different to keep Alabama afloat. Milroe has gotten better since the Tide’s week two loss to Texas at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He recorded a career-high performance in completions (21) and passing yards (321) in Alabama’s 26-20 victory over Texas A&M. Milroe started the Arkansas game hot with three total scores, including a 79-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Prentice. He has chemistry with Jermaine Burton as the senior wide receiver leads the Tide for receiving yards (446) and touchdowns (four) on 19 catches. He caught nine passes for 197 yards and two scores in a meeting with the Aggies at Kyle Field. Each week, players and coaches feel Alabama can win a national title with Milroe.
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On Thursday, Nick Saban explained to Pat McAfee how Milroe has the full trust of everyone.
“Jalen Milroe has done an outstanding job and his teammates have grown confident in him..
We could still be a little more consistent in the passing game but we’ve made a lot of explosive plays” ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/UGFL5vLaUH
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 19, 2023
“I think Jalen has done an outstanding job of communicating and showing leadership to his teammates,” Saban said. “I think his teammates have grown confident in him, which I think is important. It would be important to all of us if you were playing on a team where everyone believes and trusts in you. That creates a lot of positive things, and I think that has developed for us offensively. I think it has developed in the passing game. We still have things to clean up, and we can still be more consistent in the passing game, but we have made a lot of explosive plays. I think that is something that we want to continue to do.”
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Coach Saban still wants more consistency from the rushing attack, but he likes what Milroe is doing.
He has 16 total touchdowns — including 11 passing scores — to four interceptions. Milroe has recently been added to the Manning Award list, which goes to the top quarterback in college football. He takes on Joe Milton and Tennessee’s offense this weekend.
Milroe’s ability to make explosive plays has the team confident in him. We will see how he performs against the Volunteers as Alabama needs to start showing the College Football Playoff Committee it can win dominantly.
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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.
