Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer on Jalen Milroe: 'The best steps I've seen since I've been here.'

Alabama football quarterback Jalen Milroe's confidence is high heading into the 2024 season.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer's confidence in his quarterback appears to be high, too, with DeBoer telling the media on Sunday that the redshirt junior "has taken the best steps I've seen since I've been here," over the last two days of the Crimson Tide 's fall camp.

"Really, the way he's intentional about coming out," DeBoer said following the Crimson Tide's fourth practice. "You know, even not what you say but how you do things, what your body language is. He gets that, that's important, but he's actually just really just leading that way and then it leads to him playing well and the other guys following suit. Today, he came out again, really he threw the deep ball probably as well as I've seen him throw. That's a lot of guys and the timing, his rhythm and all of that coming into play. He's getting more comfortable."

Milroe emerged as Alabama's starter last season, starting every contest with the exception of South Florida. Milroe enters this season as the presumptive starter among the Crimson Tide's quarterback room. He will be tasked with leading the Crimson Tide's new offense this season under DeBoer and co-offensive coordinators Nick Sheridan and JaMarcus Shephard, one that is significantly different than what Milroe and Alabama's returning starters are used to.

Milroe should perform well in the new offense, though, being perhaps the most dynamic athlete on Alabama's roster and especially with it being catered towards the passing attack but also emphasizing the run. Milroe finished last season completing 187-of-284 passes for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdown, while rushing for an additional 531 yards and 12 scores, leading Alabama to an SEC Championship and to the College Football Playoff.

When speaking to members of the media on Saturday, Milroe echoed his excitement for the Crimson Tide's new offense, telling reporters Alabama "(has) a lot in store for (its) offense."

"I think we're just having fun," Milroe said on Saturday. "Beyond scheming up plays and stuff like that, we're all having fun together. This time right now is very important to maximize the reps that we have so that leading into the season we are just reflecting on our training. So I think we are doing a very good job of just having fun together."

Alabama also returns quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan from 2023, along with adding Austin Mack from the transfer portal. Mack transferred to Alabama from Washington, following DeBoer, so already has experience practicing in DeBoer's system.

The Crimson Tide concluded its fourth of 20 preseason practices on Sunday. The Crimson Tide begins its 2024 season on Aug. 31, hosting Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

2024 SCHEDULE: Alabama football schedule 2024: Game times for Georgia, Wisconsin, USF, Western Kentucky

PRACTICE TAKEAWAYS: Proctor gets first-team reps: Takeaways from Alabama football's fourth practice of camp

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer on Jalen Milroe: 'The best steps I've seen since I've been here.'