Jalen Milroe has the character, integrity, and attitude of a University of Alabama quarterback.
He led the Crimson Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship last year, but Milroe could have easily pursued the NCAA transfer portal after getting Nick Saban’s retirement from coaching. Several names, including Isaiah Bond, decided to go elsewhere, but one-half of “Fourth & Thirty-One” or “Gravedigger” from the Iron Bowl remains in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Jamie Hale, a sports anchor/reporter for ABC 33/40, caught up with Milroe to discuss why he chose to stay.
The rising junior quarterback kept it simple by stating, “I signed my letter of intent to come to University of Alabama so it’s all about staying here and building.”
The # of Alabama players to enter the portal since Nick Saban’s retirement is in the double digits.
Jalen Milroe stayed. It was never a question for the Tide QB.
“What’s for you is for you. For me, that’s to stay at Alabama. I signed my letter of intent to come to University… pic.twitter.com/XNy5UQn04S
— Jamie Hale (@JamieHaleSports) January 28, 2024
“For me, it is to stay at Alabama,” Milroe said. “I have a lot of stuff at Alabama that I want to achieve. We have a really good group of guys in the locker room, so I aim super excited about what’s ahead for our football team. We are excited to have Coach DeBoer in, and the coaching staff that is here because they are going to allow us to grow.”
Milroe, a native Texan, grew up in 2023 after Alabama loss to Texas. He went on to account for 2,834 passing yards, 35 total touchdowns, and six interceptions. Milroe took the Crimson Tide back to the College Football Playoff after it missed out on an opportunity in 2022. Austin Mack, a transfer from Washington, now enter the quarterback room for Alabama.
It is going to be fun to see if Milroe can hold off the competition and maintain the starting role.
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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.
