He is not afraid to return to Bryant-Denny Stadium for his first regular season matchup against Alabama since 2020, yet one player for the Crimson Tide has Kirby Smart of Georgia very concerned.
Smart, who was a defensive assistant coach under Nick Saban for nine years (2007-15), took the blueprint he learned from Saban to the University of Georgia. The former Bulldog standout as a player has won two of the last three College Football Playoff National Championship, including one versus Saban and the Tide.
Smart, 48, was part of four national championships, three Southeastern Conference Championships, and two Heisman Trophy winners as an assistant coach at Alabama. He returns to Saban Field this weekend in hopes to take down the Tide. Smart faces Jalen Milroe for a second time after losing to him in the 2023 SEC Championship Game.
Milroe, a native Texan, completed 13 of 23 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns as a first-year starter in the SEC title game. He led the Crimson Tide to a 27-24 victory, knocking Georgia out of CFP contention and keeping it from a three-peat as national champions. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder is back as a much improved playmaker.
Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) runs against the Georgia Bulldogs in the first quarter of the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
RELATED: Alabama DC Kane Wommack reveals challenge Georgia QB Carson Beck presents
Milroe, a redshirt junior, has an opportunity to stamp himself into the Heisman conversation and elevate his NFL Draft stock with a marquee performance on Saturday. He has 14 total touchdowns and no interceptions in three games.
Smart knows what Milroe is as an athlete, but it is another area of his game that has the Bulldogs’ head coach concerned.
“He has made a considerable jump as a natural pocket passer,” Smart said about Milroe in his presser on Monday.
“You see him make more throws that are rhythm throws, on time throws, and RPO throws. You can tell he has become more comfortable with those things. Still, some of his most exciting plays are when things break down or design runs. Both are dangerous, but you see him as a deep ball passer, vertical passing game, the shots, rhythm throws, outs, timing throws, RPOs, he has improved immensely. He has always been good athletically.”
Smart said the biggest challenge with Milroe is ‘you don’t know what is going to happen.’
“He is as different a football player in college football I have played against in a long time,” Smart said. “People think he is just a runner and that is not the case. He has a tremendous arm, and he can do things with his arm that others can’t. He can reach spots on the field and get it there faster than you can break on it better than most arm talent people. It is a tremendous challenge to defend a guy like him.”
RELATED: What Kalen DeBoer said about Donald Trump coming to Alabama vs. Georgia game
Smart has his work cut out for him, but Milroe must be on his game as well.
A CFP atmosphere will be in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) for this SEC showdown.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
