Alabama welcomed in 14 early enrollees from its record-breaking 2021 class last month. With the Crimson Tide set to open its spring camp next month, BamaInsider will pass the time by examining each of the newcomers set to begin their college careers this spring.
Today we begin with the lone quarterback in Alabama’s class: Jalen Milroe.
What he offers
The comparisons to Jalen Hurts are inevitable. Not only does Jalen Milroe share the same first name as Hurts, he also hails from the Houston area and brings a dynamic dual-threat ability to Tuscaloosa, Ala. However, the likeness only goes so far.
While Milroe shares some of the traits that made Hurts a success at Alabama, his game differs a bit from the former Tide quarterback. The four-star freshman will use his 4.6 speed when he needs to but has made serious strides as a passer over his final two seasons of high school and should arrive at Alabama more polished than Hurts did in 2016.
Milroe is a proven winner, leading upstart Tompkins High School to 31 wins in his three-year varsity career. Over that span, he completed 321 of 541 passes (59.3 percent) for 5,400 yards and 53 touchdowns to 14 interceptions while adding 1,208 yards and 22 more touchdowns on the ground.
“Athletically he’s obviously a freak,” Milroe’s high school head coach Todd McVey told BamaInsider last summer. “As a coach, he’s the best quarterback I’ve had as far as physical attributes. Then you get to the mental side of his game. He’s really developed into someone who can read a defense and take what it gives him. He understands and is a student of the game. He wants to learn. They’re getting an ultra-competitive kid who hates to lose and doesn’t linger on mistakes.”
Where he fits in next season
Milroe enters a talented but inexperienced quarterback room at Alabama. With Mac Jones heading to the NFL this offseason, five-star phenom Bryce Young is the heavy favorite to take over behind center in his second year with the program. Milroe will also compete with Paul Tyson who, despite not attempting a pass over his first two seasons, is finally poised to take on a bigger role this year.
Outside of Jones, Young was the only quarterback to take snaps behind center for Alabama last year. Barring a massive regression, he should be able to lock down the first-team role relatively early this offseason. The bigger battle might come between Tyson and Milroe for the backup job.
Tyson, who recently flashed his deep-ball accuracy over social media this week, will head into camp as the favorite for the No. 2 role. However, the 6-foot-5, 228-pound pocket passer offers a completely different skill set to Young.
It’s unknown how much Alabama’s offense will change under the direction of first-year offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. However, if the Tide tailors its attack to Young’s talents, Milroe might serve as a more suitable replacement in the event of an injury. That being said, it’s unlikely Alabama will make too many drastic alterations from the offense attack operated by Jones, a true pocket passer, last season.
Still, Milroe should have the opportunity to come in and make a statement this spring. A strong performance over the next few months could go a long way toward sparking his early career at Alabama. After all, that’s how the last Jalen got his shot behind center for the Tide five years ago.
What they’re saying
“We had Jalen in camp way back when and we really liked his skill set. He’s really athletic. He’s really accurate as a passer. He’s got a strong arm. He’s got a really good disposition about himself as a leader and a great personality that I think people can sort of follow. And we’re excited to have him here. He was one of the top guys in the country in our opinion, and we were really happy to get him here.” — Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
