He played under Nick Saban for three years at the University of Alabama — including a Southeastern Conference Championship season in 2023 as a first-year starter — but having Kalen DeBoer has been the best thing for Jalen Milroe.
Milroe, a redshirt junior, enters his second year as the starting quarterback. He totaled 2,834 passing yards, 531 rushing yards, and 35 touchdowns last year, but he’s gotten better in fall practice. Milroe’s mastery of the offense has DeBoer and Nick Sheridan adding more things to Alabama’s playbook to offset defenses. The Crimson Tide has no quarterback battle, and it has allowed Milroe to flourish into a marquee leader and complete player. According to Coach DeBoer, Milroe had his best practice Sunday.
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He is playing at a high level and holds himself to a high standard.
“I thought yesterday and today he took the biggest steps since I’ve been here,” DeBoer said about Milroe.
“The way he is intentional about coming out. … It is not just what you say, but how you do things. It is about body language, and he gets that. He is really leading that way and then it leads to him playing well. Today, he threw the deep ball probably as well as I have seen him throw. He is just feeling more comfortable. He’s done a nice job raising his game and asking more from himself.”
DeBoer said Milroe is about being on top of every detail.
He is back as one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC and in college football. Milroe has a tough schedule to lead Alabama through; however, a national championship season will silence the doubters. He is prepared to take his game to a new level.
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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.
