Jalen Milroe is on his third quarterback coach and offensive coordinator in four seasons at the University of Alabama.
He arrived as a four-star from Tompkins High School (Katy, Texas) in 2021 recruiting class.
Bill O’Brien served as his position coach in 2021 and 2022 while Tommy Rees ran the offense and coached quarterbacks in 2023. Milroe earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors last year, propelling the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship and a College Football Playoff berth. He became a permanent team captain and co-created an acronym, “Let All Naysayers Know,” or LANK that became the team’s battle cry for success. Milroe had 2,834 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns — 23 passing, 12 rushing — as a first-year starter.
He returns as an experienced leader, but Milroe has competition in the quarterback room — including from a transfer.
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Nick Sheridan, Alabama’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, sees a high upside in Milroe.
The 35-year-old former quarterback discussed his thoughts about Milroe on The Next Round Show. Sheridan played at the University of Michigan for five years (2006-10), helping the program to three bowl games. He understands the coaching change Milroe is going through because he endured it. Sheridan had Lloyd Carr coaching him in 2006 and 2007, but the Wolverines encountered a transition in 2008 as Rich Rodriguez became the new head coach.
Sheridan has been around quarterbacks with high upsides, including Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee) and Michael Penix (Indiana, Washington). He sees Milroe with a high upside.
“Everybody knows about the explosiveness as a runner but I also think he’s extremely explosive as a passer too.
He’s an extremely talented player, I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. He’s got a great attitude and a work ethic that’s really unmatched.” @AlabamaFTBL… pic.twitter.com/b7ARGC3vJE
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) February 28, 2024
“For sure, I absolutely do,” Sheridan said about if he sees the same upside in Milroe that Dobbs and Penix had.
“I think he is an extremely talented, hardworking person. Everybody know about his explosiveness as a runner, but I think he’s extremely explosive as a passer too. He has a very strong arm. He is an extremely talented player, I don’t think there is any doubt about it. He’s got a great attitude and a work ethic that’s really unmatched.”
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Sheridan praised the development process Milroe endured in 2023 as a first-year starter.
He was benched week three of the season for Tyler Buchner against South Florida. Milroe learned from that situation, recaptured the starting job, and pushed his team to dethrone a two-time defending CFP National Champion in the SEC title game.
Milroe gets ready to try and be the starting quarterback next season by having a strong spring.
Practice starts on Monday, March 4 for the Crimson Tide.
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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.
