Alabama football prevented Georgia from winning a third straight College Football Playoff National Championship in what would be Nick Saban’s final season as head coach.
The Crimson Tide helped Saban to his ninth Southeastern Conference Championship, but he steps away from coaching still having six national championships at Alabama — tying him with Paul W. “Bear” Bryant. Kalen DeBoer was tapped to be Saban’s successor, and he has hit the ground running. He has put together a good coaching staff, kept significant core players together, and is starting to build relationships on the recruiting trail. Jalen Milroe, a rising junior quarterback, was home in Houston, Texas, doing an event for Tristar Productions. The Most Valuable Player of the 2023 SEC Championship Game is excited to play under Coach DeBoer. He appreciates everything Saban did for him, but Milroe feels that DeBoer will take it to another level.
#Alabama @AlabamaFTBL quarterback Jalen Milroe @JalenMilroe on his goals, playing for Nick Saban, transition to coach Kalen DeBoer, and his comments on Bill O’Brien @KPRC2 @TRISTAR1 @SEC pic.twitter.com/MxvJV462k6
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 3, 2024
“We are all hungry, we all want more,” Milroe said about the excitement Alabama players have to work with DeBoer. “We all have the same mindset as a football team. He [Coach DeBoer] is going to push us to be where we want to be in the future, so the biggest thing we have to do is build a relationship and be where our feet are. That is not going to change. I am super excited to have Coach DeBoer here, and the young guys that will be a part of our program.”
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Milroe is also excited to show he can maintain the starting quarterback position for Alabama. He finished last season with 2,834 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns. Milroe propelled the Tide to an SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff; however, there is still room for improvement. He has to get better in the short to intermediate passing game in spring practice.
If he can fine-tune that aspect, Milroe has an opportunity to be very dangerous.
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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.
