For Jalen Milroe, staying at Alabama was more than a football decision

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns last season while adding 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

This was one of the main reasons the Crimson Tide made the College Football Playoff in 2023, but when head coach Nick Saban retired, Milroe was obviously one of the bigger names in the country in regards to transfer portal speculation.

Milroe could have gone just about anywhere and cashed in on a big NIL deal to transfer, but the quarterback recently told ESPN's "First Take" (h/t On3 ) that staying at Alabama had much more to do than just football and whether or not Saban or Kalen DeBoer was the head coach.

It had to do with commitment, and frankly, education — which is refreshing to hear.

"So prior to going to college I told my parents, ‘Hey, no matter the situation, no matter if I start my first year in college, second year, third year, I’m going to get my degree in three years,'” Milroe explained. “And I was able to achieve that this past December. And at my graduation I gave a speech to everybody and I told them that of course I’m coming back, staying my next season in college, and I would get my Master’s degree next December despite any challenges. So this was before coach Saban retired, and I’m all about staying committed to my goals.

“My goal is to get my Master’s degree from the University of Alabama, and it’s definitely a hard task but with everything it’s all about goal-setting for yourself. And I just felt ultimately Alabama was the place I need to be at and nothing was going to allow me to move away from that.”

That's the type of commitment to education you don't normally hear about anymore in today's college football environment. Throw in the fact that Alabama should still be a contender under DeBoer and Milroe is undoubtedly a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, and it seems like the 6-foot-2, 220-pound product of Katy, Texas may be able to accomplish the best of both worlds in Tuscaloosa.

Win big on the field and at school? That's a win-win.