Will Jalen Milroe Grow Into A National Champion with Alabama?

Entering the 2023 season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban was not set on a quarterback. Saban had went into his quarterback room and let Milroe, Ty Simpson, and Tyler Buchner all know each would get meaningful action at some point.

While Saban alluded to having confidence in Milroe after not playing him against USF, citing Simpson and Buchner played because he promised each would see action, it was hard to ignore Milroe’s lackluster performance against Texas in questioning Saban. Milroe completed barely 50% of his passes (14 for 27 passing) and had two costly interceptions that led to 10 Longhorns points.

Following the USF game, Milore would go on to be selected as one of the Crimson Tide's permanent team captains Milroe would earn Second Team All-SEC recognition from the AP, finish fifth nationally in passer efficiency rating at 172.2, led all quarterbacks with 12 rushing touchdowns earning recognition from the Manning Award as a finalist.

How has Milroe been this offseason in a new program and new approach? Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer answered the question during his Western Kentucky press conference this week, “He’s been consistent. And that’s what I think one of the biggest qualities you can have is consistent. Obviously you want a consistently be at the highest level that you possibly can. You want to walk on the field, and this is for any player, but I think this is something Jalen has done a better and better job of since we’ve gotten here, and it’s you know what you’re going to get when you get out there— whether it’s the attitude and the effort, the play on the field. There really haven’t been some crazy highs or crazy lows.”

“I think he's just continuing to build, continuing to work with his guys. Whether it’s the offensive line and the communication and making sure he’s on the same page with protections, run checks or whatever it might be. The receiving corps with the timing of routes. A lot of communication. I think he continued to grow and evolve as well.”

Milroe enters his redshirt junior season in Tuscaloosa firmly entrenched as the starter in one of the more consequential seasons in Alabama history. Not only is Alabama transitioning from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer, the SEC welcomes Oklahoma and Texas, as well as an expanded playoff.

Alabama standards have been championships, Milroe owns a SEC Championship and the only starting quarterbacks to not win a national championship while Saban was head coach as a starter was John Parker Wilson, Blake Sims and Bryce Young (Young and Sims won national championships as backups). Milroe is a pivotal figure if Alabama would like to continue the dynasty or allow ESPN talking head Paul Finebaum to be right that the Alabama dynasty died.