Alabama football should have arguably the most explosive offense in the nation this season.
The Crimson Tide returns its starting quarterback from 2023 in Jalen Milroe, and Alabama has a full offensive staff guiding him toward success.
Kalen DeBoer has developed signal-callers in his coaching career; however, Michael Penix is the most significant success story. DeBoer had Penix with him at Indiana when he was the offensive coordinator in 2019. Penix, a freshman then, recorded 10 touchdown passes, two rushing touchdowns, and 1,394 passing yards in seven games. He assisted the Hoosiers to an 8-5 record and became the starting quarterback in the following year. Penix collected 16 total touchdowns — 14 passing, two rushing — in the Coronavirus-shortened campaign in 2020, guiding Indiana to a 6-2 record. After a struggling season in 2021, Penix left the Hoosiers to reunite with DeBoer at Washington in 2022. He grew into a two-time 4,000-plus yard passer, earning first-team All-American honors and the Maxwell Award in 2023. Penix was a Heisman Trophy finalist that year, leading the Huskies to a Pac-12 Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
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Milroe has traits similar to Penix, but the native Texan is more of a true dual threat quarterback.
Alabama fans want to see DeBoer produce with Milroe what he did with Penix, but add a national championship to it.
In an interview with Adam Breneman of Next Up, DeBoer compared Milroe to Penix.
*Coach DeBoer compares Jalen Milroe to Michael Penix at the 30:54 mark
“Every guy is their own guy,” DeBoer said. “What I do know is both of them are extremely great people. They want to achieve success at the highest level individually, but when you get to know them they want what’s best for their teammates. Whether it’s Jalen here or Michael there, it is not just something they are saying publicly, but they are pouring into that and living it.”
DeBoer said Milroe and Penix both hold themselves accountable in leadership.
“They also pass it down to the rest of the team,” he said. “Super talented in their own way, but it is cool seeing Jalen watch clips from last year as we install new things offensively, in particular, and he’s embraced that. He is excited about it, and he’s taking on everything like Michael did that we threw at him because they want to grow and be their best. They want what’s best for the program, what’s best for the team, and they are great leaders.”
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Both are similar in leadership and both were in the Heisman conversation last season.
Milroe has a chance to take a huge step in the fall because a marquee campaign could deliver him a Heisman Trophy and deliver Alabama football to a national championship. DeBoer produced Penix into a first round NFL Draft pick, and Milroe is next.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
