Jalen Milroe is in a position to have a special season for the University of Alabama football program.
The redshirt junior is learning from two quarterback developers, including one as his head coach.
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He overcame doubt from Bill O’Brien and had success under Tommy Rees, but Kalen DeBoer and Nick Sheridan are about to unleash the nation’s most dangerous signal-caller.
Milroe, a native Texan, is having fun playing football and it is due to the confidence that DeBoer and Sheridan give him. Both push him to be at his best; however, they make sure they affirm him as the right quarterback for the job.
People quickly name Michael Penix as the biggest success story at quarterback for DeBoer, but Lorenzo Brown was first at Sioux Falls. DeBoer saw Brown lead the program to two NAIA Championships in 2008 and 2009, recording a record of 29-0 as a starter for the Cougars.
He posted 3,221 career passing yards, 844 rushing yards, and 56 touchdowns (16 rushing scores) in his tenure. Kory Faulkner had success under DeBoer in 2013 at Southern Illinois.
He posted a strong touchdown to interception ratio of 18 to four and had 20 total scores.
Brogan Roback continued the growth of DeBoer’s presence with quarterbacks at Eastern Michigan.
He collected 2,694 passing yards in 2016 with 20 total touchdowns (two rushing scores) to seven interceptions. Marcus McMaryion became the first dual threat quarterback for DeBoer at Fresno State (2017-18) since Brown at Sioux Falls.
He excelled in two seasons, amassing 6,355 passing yards — including 3,629 yards in 2018 — and 51 total touchdowns (39 passing, 12 rushing).
Jake Haener became a star quarterback under DeBoer at Fresno State in 2020 and 2021, totaling 6,117 career passing yards and 53 touchdowns.
DeBoer knows how to take complex aspects and make them simple for quarterbacks. Milroe has not even scratched the surface of how good he can be. He is really excited about growing at the position by seeing things through the lens of a coach.
He has not scratched the surface of how good he can be, but #Alabama QB Jalen Milroe discusses what he enjoys about learning from Kalen DeBoer as a “quarterback whisperer.”@TDAlabamaMag @TouchdownETP pic.twitter.com/gXG4MlZru5
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) August 27, 2024
“It has been great to be with him,” Milroe said Tuesday about DeBoer. “Especially, of course, just the relationship he has with the quarterback and just trying to learn as much as possible. As a quarterback, I want to see the field through the lenses of the head coach in all areas of the game. That has been awesome to have from spring ball to summer training, and now fall camp to transitioning to the season. It has been so much growth and so much improvement as a team just off the relationship aspect.”
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Milroe said he’s been a sponge for all information DeBoer gives him.
“I think, ultimately, you are trying to see the field as a coach,” he said. “You want to see the football field through the lenses of a coach. It processes differently when you get on the field. At the end of the day, the point of the position is to simplify the game. You simplify the game by being a point guard with the football, distribute the ball to our playmakers so they can make explosive plays and do what the play requires.”
He knows this kind of success comes with repetition, but Milroe is fine with it. Milroe sees the big picture and understands that for him to dominate this season, capture a national championship, and possibly become a high-round NFL Draft pick, he has to excel in every level of the passing game. DeBoer is helping him accomplish it by getting him to see things from all angles.
Alabama fans are looking forward to watching Milroe against Western Kentucky.
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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.
