Tag: Milroe

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Harold Landry III (2) warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Super Bowl LX: Patriots LBs Harold Landry, Robert Spillane active

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England officially has linebackers Harold Landry (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle) available for Super Bowl LX after neither were on the Patriots’ inactives list before kickoff Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.

The return of Landry, who had 8.5 sacks in the regular season, is particularly good news for the Patriots after he missed the AFC Championship Game win over Denver. He and Spillane were questionable on Friday’s injury report.

The Patriots’ inactives for Sunday are wide receiver Efton Chism, tight end C.J. Dippre, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, guard Caedan Wallace, outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson and cornerback Kobee Minor. Tommy DeVito is also inactive but will be the Patriots’ emergency third quarterback.

The Seahawks ruled out fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck). Seattle’s other inactives are tight end Nick Kallerup, offensive lineman Mason Richman, linebackers Chazz Surratt and Jared Ivey and nose tackle Brandon Pili. Jalen Milroe is on the list as the emergency third quarterback.

–Field Level Media

Heisman Trophy winner Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward pose for a photo during a press conference before the 2024 Heisman Trophy Presentation. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

The Replacements: Players primed to replace stars of 2024

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter was a one-of-a-kind player and he owns a Heisman Trophy to prove it.

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was the breakaway king who put together the best college running back season since legendary Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State in 1988.

Hunter and Jeanty had the ultimate Big Man on Campus status last season and are now rookies in the NFL. It’s now time for other players to step up and make their mark.

So let us key on the replacements for the Big Men on Campus. Some are already apparent and others will emerge in September. Of course, we need two players to step up to replace Hunter.

As for the new Big Men on Campus, none were easier to forecast than Texas quarterback Arch Manning. His potential is why the Longhorns begin the season as the nation’s No. 1 team. And former Georgia star Carson Beck is surely more than a capable replacement at Miami for Cam Ward.

Here are the key replacements for the 2025 season:

Departed BMOC: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter

Replacements: WR Joseph Williams, CB DJ McKinney

Williams was the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year for Tulsa last season when he caught 30 passes for 588 yards and five touchdowns. Nobody is expecting the transfer to approach Hunter numbers but he’ll likely challenge for a 1,000-yard season.

DJ McKinney was the other cornerback last season while Hunter was the star. Now he will be the top dog after having three interceptions last season. Oklahoma transfer Makari Vickers also is a player to watch at cornerback.

Departed BMOC: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

Replacements: Malik Sherrod, Sire Gaines

Fresno State transfer Sherrod and freshman Gaines will be splitting carries to start the season. Sherrod rushed for 966 yards in 2023 before being limited to four games last season due to injury, while Gaines had 156 last season in three games prior to being lost with an injury. They won’t be combining for Jeanty’s 2,601 on the ground but they do have enough potential to keep the dropoff from being too steep.

Departed BMOC: Penn State DE Abdul Carter

Replacement: Dani Dennis-Sutton

Sutton had 8.5 sacks last season while Carter was being double-teamed or even facing triple teams on the other side of the line. Now Sutton will be the feared guy expected to post 12 to 15 sacks and be a terror — even if approaching Carter’s level of domination isn’t realistic. His three-season numbers of 15 sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions show he’s ready for the lead role.

Departed BMOC: Miami QB Cam Ward

Replacement: Carson Beck

Beck excelled while starting for Georgia the past two seasons and had 7,426 yards and 52 touchdown passes. While guiding the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record in 2023, he completed 72.4 percent of his passes and tossed just six interceptions but he regressed last season to 64.7 percent and 12 picks. Obtaining a veteran replacement that has been through the wars to replace Ward is a huge bonus for the Hurricanes.

Departed BMOC: Texas QB Quinn Ewers

Replacement: Arch Manning

Manning was solid when replacing an injured Ewers last season and he finished the campaign with 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions along with four rushing scores. This is his third year in the system so he’s had ample time to master it and he should be one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Of course, he has the bloodlines of the Manning assembly line so anything short of stardom will be surprising.

Departed BMOC: Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel

Replacement: Dante Moore

Moore watched the precise Gabriel play last season and the offensive coaches are hoping there won’t be a large drop-off. Moore began his college career at UCLA and threw 213 passes in 2023 so he does have experience. The Ducks are used to rolling up points so Oregon’s win-loss record could take a hit if Moore doesn’t produce big.

Departed BMOC: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo

Replacement: Kyson Brown

Skattebo became a national sensation while leading the Sun Devils to a surprise playoff berth and Brown says he relishes trying to prove people wrong about this season’s running game. Brown has been a backup the past two seasons and rushed for 351 yards in 2024, including a 100-yard game against Arizona. Army transfer Kayne Udho transferred in after rushing for 1,117 yards and 10 scores last season and he will certainly receive plenty of opportunities.

Departed BMOC: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

Replacement: Kaidon Salter

Liberty transfer Salter threw 32 touchdown passes in 2023 before the number dropped to 15 last season. He’s a veteran signal caller that avoids miscues (17 interceptions in 702 career attempts) and should provide the Buffaloes with consistent play. He won’t match Sanders’ passing-yardage totals but his stability and experience will be a plus for Colorado.

Departed BMOC: Penn State TE Tyler Warren

Replacement: Khalil Dinkins

Dinkins had just 14 catches last season while playing behind the stellar Warren and has 23 in three seasons but his role will be much bigger. His 4.5 40-yard dash time is reportedly a record for a Penn State tight end so he ought to be able to shed linebackers and stop in front of safeties and approach 50 receptions. Luke Reynolds had nine catches in a backup role and also will be utilized more this season.

Departed BMOC: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe

Replacement: QB Ty Simpson

Being on par with Milroe as a leader will be the biggest chore for Simpson, who has thrown 50 passes over the past three seasons. The timing of being the Crimson Tide quarterback is a little dicey after the program experienced some slippage during coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season. New offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb helped Michael Penix Jr. flourish at Washington and now his task is to mold Simpson into an upper-tier SEC quarterback.

–Field Level Media

Feb 1, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during NFC Practice for the Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Seahawks coach slams door on Sam Darnold QB2 talk

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pundits and proponents of starting any quarterback but Sam Darnold received an emphatic hush from Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on Tuesday.

Whether Darnold, 27, was the best option to start for Seattle this season became a hotter topic on Monday after a rough showing in organized team activities. He was intercepted twice in a span of three plays during 7-on-7 drills. A radio host asked Macdonald in an interview Tuesday morning whether he could envision another quarterback starting for any reason other than an injury to Darnold.

“No, you guys are crazy,” Macdonald said in the live call on 710 AM in Seattle. “I respect that you’ve got to ask it, but it’s just a crazy question. It’s just not going to happen. Sam’s our starting quarterback. We love him. He’s doing a tremendous job.”

Signed as a free agent after a resurgent season with the Vikings in which Minnesota went 14-3, Darnold is in line to take over the reins of the Seattle offense from Geno Smith. Smith was traded in March to the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting him with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

Rather than re-sign Darnold, Minnesota turned the offense over to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery.

Seattle drafted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and traded backup Sam Howell to the Vikings. Macdonald insists the plan for Milroe isn’t to start, but have a role in a unique package of play in each game. He estimated Darnold would still play “90 percent” of Minnesota’s first-team snaps.

The Seahawks emerged as a landing spot and offered Darnold a three-year deal worth more than $100 million. Macdonald said Tuesday he’s not worried about the quarterback not being on the money in offseason workouts.

“God forbid you’re the worst payer of all time because you made one bad throw or one bad decision,” he said. “That is not what we’re trying to build. We want these guys to go prepare the right way and then when they go out on the practice field, go freaking let it rip and then we’ll go fix it … We’ve got time. It’s June 3 … They’re going to get plenty of reps. We’ll get those things fixed.”

–Field Level Media

Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (QB11) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe blazes 40 at pro day with Steelers front and center

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Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe posted a 40 time in the 4.5-second range at the Crimson Tide pro day in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday morning.

NFL Network reported some in attendance clocked Milroe as fast as 4.37 seconds on his first of two 40-yard dash attempts.

Milroe flashed a cannon for a throwing arm, another known commodity, but his accuracy and ability to dial in on shorter throws and float the ball between the second and third level remain concerns for NFL evaluators.

He has a second-round grade from Field Level Media. He had 33 TD runs and threw 45 touchdown passes for the Crimson Tide.

Milroe opted to work out with quarterbacks in position drills in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine but did not run the 40. He was clocked Wednesday using handheld timing devices rather than the digital timing system in place at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Perhaps the most significant development on campus was the revelation that projected first-round linebacker Jihaad Campbell, wearing a heavy brace and stabilizing support device to elevate his left arm, had shoulder surgery to repair what he described as a “slight tear” in his labrum. Campbell and offensive guard Tyler Booker are viewed as probable first-rounders in April.

With scouts from all 32 teams in attendance, Milroe’s speed — long known to be an asset — was not a concern for teams evaluating a QB class featuring purported No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward (Miami) and projected first-rounders Shedeur Sanders (Alabama) and Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss).

Milroe ran indoors at the Alabama practice facility before conducting his throwing session. NFL evaluators differ on the value of the heavily scripted and often overly practiced routine with familiar receivers because it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison of those who participate at the combine.

Milroe reportedly met with Steelers general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin before the workout. They were front and center observing the workout as reports percolate about whether Pittsburgh is awaiting a decision from free agent Aaron Rodgers about joining the team.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) celebrates with fans after the Alabama Crimson Tide victory against the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe delays NFL draft decision

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe plans to push back a decision on entering the draft or returning to the Crimson Tide until after the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan on Dec. 31.

Milroe told 247 Sports his focus is on beating the Wolverines, who ended Alabama’s 2023 season in the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinals.

“My thought process right now is finish this game out,” said Milroe, who turned 22 and graduated with a Masters degree last week.

Milroe, who backed up 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young for his first two seasons, is projected as a first-round draft pick if he opts to enter instead of returning to Alabama for his redshirt senior season in 2025.

In 2024, Milroe played for his third different offensive coordinator since landing at Alabama. He racked up 3,371 total yards, 20 rushing touchdowns with 15 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

Should first-year coach Kalen DeBoer lose Milroe to the draft, Alabama has Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell on the QB depth chart.

Milroe edged Simpson for the starting job in 2023 and Mack transferred from Washington to follow DeBoer.

A five-star recruit ranked No. 2 overall in the nation, Russell was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year last week.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Parker Brailsford (72) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe rolls into heavy Heisman favorite status

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When Jalen Milroe announced last December that he was returning to Alabama for the 2024 season, he didn’t specifically mention the Heisman Trophy as a motivating factor.

If it weren’t already among his goals, Milroe can add it to his list after potentially enjoying his “Heisman moment” in Saturday’s 41-34 victory over bitter rival Georgia.

Milroe owned the fifth-shortest odds over the summer at +1500 at DraftKings. By last week he had moved into the third spot at +700 while watching Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Miami’s Cam Ward cycle through the top spot.

That spot now firmly belongs to Milroe. After accounting for four touchdowns against Georgia, he is now the +250 favorite — by far the shortest odds for any player this season through DraftKings. Milroe is followed by Ward (+500) and Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter, who had shot from +2000 last week to +700 by Monday.

HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*
PLAYER, TEAM, JULY ODDS, WEEK 1, CURRENT
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, +1500, +1100, +250
Cam Ward, Miami, +2200, +950, +500
Travis Hunter, Colorado, N/A, N/A, +700
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, N/A/, N/A, +1000
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, +750, +800, +1400
Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee, +1800, +1200, +1500
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, +1400, +850, +1600
Quinn Ewers, Texas, +1000, +1400, +2000
Miller Moss, Southern California, N/A, +2200, +2500
Will Howard, Ohio State, +1500, +1600, +2500
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, N/A, N/A, +2800
Carson Beck, Georgia, +800, +900, +3000
Drew Allar, Penn State, N/A, N/A, +3500
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, N/A, +2200, +4000
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, +2200, +3500, +4000
Arch Manning, Texas, N/A, N/A, +4500
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame, N/A, N/A, +5500
*DraftKings

Milroe has now thrown for 964 yards with 10 touchdowns against a lone interception this season. He has added a pair of touchdowns on the ground in each of the Crimson Tide’s first four games while racking up 273 yards on the ground.

Hunter has the shortest odds among non-quarterbacks, and he moved up the list following Ewers’ injury and early-season upsets that include Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, who plummeted to +1600 from +850 following the Rebels’ loss to Kentucky on Saturday.

Also rocketing up the list of contenders was Jeanty, who moved from +1000 after the star Boise State running back rumbled for 259 yards and four scores in a blowout win over Washington State. Jeanty now has 845 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground through four games.

Conversely, Beck saw his Heisman hopes hammered after throwing three picks against the Crimson Tide, the last one significantly underthrown and ending the Bulldogs’ final drive in the end zone. After rising as high as +800 over the summer, Beck is now a +3000 Heisman longshot. That’s behind Ewers (+2000), who has missed Texas’ past two games.

–Field Level Media

Georgia coach Kirby Smart leads his team onto the field before the start of the SEC Championship game against Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.

No. 2 Georgia very familiar with QB, getting to know new-look No. 4 Alabama

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Georgia coach Kirby Smart spent the weekend getting to know a familiar foe with relatively unfamiliar names at the top.

Smart, a former assistant coach at Alabama under Nick Saban, takes Georgia back to Tuscaloosa this week for a big-ticket SEC showdown with the Crimson Tide.

The meeting of teams ranked in the top five takes Smart to the place he called home for nine years. But even in the region where his children were born, there’s less nostalgia and more nose-to-grindstone for the 48-year-old.

No. 2 Georgia is spending extra time preparing after its bye last week to get more familiar with No. 4 Alabama’s new coaching staff and scheme under Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer was hired after a runner-up national title finish at Washington, replacing Smart’s former boss, Nick Saban.

“Last time we went it was 4-5 years from the time we had lived there. It’s so weird when you play there because you’re in and out,” Smart said. “You’re there, then you’re gone. It’s just different. There’s a lot of people that are still there in the organization that I’m close with and have a lot of respect for, but that’s the case for a lot of these places in the SEC.”

With Saban, a seven-time national title winner, moving to an advisory role at Alabama and working with ESPN as a college football analyst, Saturday’s game on a national stage will be played on the newly-minted Nick Saban Field.

Alabama (3-0) is one of six undefeated teams in the SEC. The Crimson Tide beat Wisconsin in Madison before also enjoying a bye last week.

“They’re different defensively for sure. Obviously the offensive staff and defensive staff changed,” Smart said. “There’s remnants, because the quarterback’s the same. The history there, at Washington with Kalen (DeBoer) and defensively the history Kane (Wommack) has and what they’ve done this year is different.”

No matter the system Alabama runs on offense, Smart said the challenge of getting ready for Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe can be overwhelming. Milroe has 590 passing yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions in the pass-first Alabama offense this season.

“With him, the challenges are immense because he’s an incredible football player,” Smart said. “There is no design to a play that you can draw up and then say, ‘Well, I’m pretty sure this is going to happen on this play with him.’ Because you don’t know what’s going to happen. Sometimes the worst thing you can do is cover everybody with him. Sometimes the best thing you can do is cover everybody. It just depends — are you capable of getting him on the ground and tackling him at times? What matchups do you have?”

Milroe also has two rushing touchdowns in each of the first three Alabama games this season. Milroe completed 13 of 23 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns to beat Georgia 27-24 in the SEC Championship game, his only career start against Smart.

“He’s as different a football player in college football as I’ve played against in a long time,” Smart said. “People think he’s just a runner and that’s not the case. He can do things with his arm other people 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’s a tremendous challenge to defend people like him.”

–Field Level Media

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer talks to Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) after scoring a touchdown against Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

No. 4 Alabama anxious for QB Jalen Milroe to step up at Wisconsin

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 4 Alabama visits Wisconsin for the first time in nearly a century on Saturday sporting a 2-0 record, but the Crimson Tide are still chasing a performance closer to flawless.

Alabama put up 21 points in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter to fight off South Florida last week, recording a 42-16 win in a game it led 14-13 in the third quarter. The Crimson Tide lost three fumbles in the second half, one from quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Milroe enters his third game under DeBoer showing positives to build on in coach Kalen DeBoer’s assessment.

“I think about some touchdown throws that he’s made,” DeBoer said Monday. “Stepping up in the pocket. Those are things I’ve seen where he’s really improved. He’s had a scramble to (tight end CJ) Dippre where he hit him along the sideline … he went to the right hit (wide receiver Germie Bernard) on a scramble.

“So I think eyes down the field, and playing that game that he can play because people worry about his legs where he can run and take off or he can draw the attention to him and throw it, I think that’s been great. When we give him looks where he can make decisions, there’s a lot of time 2-3 choices he can make … I think he’s getting better with every rep we share with him. Always learning. It’s good to grind out a win in the fourth quarter. Just something along those lines.”

DeBoer said his players are looking forward to the challenge ahead at Wisconsin (2-0), which he described as a “great environment.”

“When you are preparing to go play those games, that hostile environment, taking it on and knowing its kind of you versus everyone there. Our guys are looking forward to the challenge,” DeBoer said.

After forcing eight three-and-outs against South Florida with zero explosive pass plays allowed, Alabama wasn’t satisfied.

“Probably the most disappointing thing is we had a number of explosive runs that were given up,” Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Monday. “Extremely disappointed in the lack of takeaways. We were minus-3 in the turnover margin which is absolutely unacceptable by our defense. It has to be something that we focus on day in and day out. It’s what we preach. It’s who we are. It’s what we believe in.”

Wommack counted two plays when South Florida had open receivers down the field but missed chances he expects Wisconsin to hit. Wommack said Wisconsin has improved running the ball and impressive skill position players who can win one-on-one matchups.

Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson, who had 10 tackles vs. USF, was ejected for targeting and must sit out the first half. He was flagged and tossed after a hit on USF quarterback Byrum Brown for leading with his helmet.

“It’s always disappointing when you have a dynamic player who is not available for one half of the game,” Wommack said. “I’ve looked at (the play) from about every angle I could. I think we’ve told the young man to just keep playing. It is what it is. We’ll deal with it.”

Jefferson also plays special teams and DeBoer said “he’s an important part of what we do.”

–Field Level Media

The Alabama Crimson Tide football team works out Sunday morning in practice as they prepare for the 2024 season. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) listens to directions from Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama set to unveil Jalen Milroe 2.0

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Jalen Milroe knows the entire playbook, and he has a hunch about tendencies and audibles in certain situations. But he can hardly contain his excitement in anticipation of putting his offseason of work on display when No. 5 Alabama welcomes Western Kentucky to Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

“As a quarterback I want to see the field in the lens of the head coach,” Milroe said of entering his first game under Kalen DeBoer. “In all areas of the game. It’s been awesome to have that aspect from spring ball, to summer training, now fall camp and transition to the season. There’s been so much growth and so much improvement as a team just always being a sponge for information.

“It processes differently when you get on the field. At the end of the day, at the quarterback position, you simplify the game by being a point guard with the football.”

Milroe said his one-on-one work with DeBoer helped him realize he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. DeBoer is decidedly offensive-minded as compared to predecessor Nick Saban, the seven-time national championship winner who cut his teeth as an assistant to Bill Belichick in Cleveland.

DeBoer, the 2023 coach of the year at Washington, learned a lot about Milroe — as a quarterback, learner and leader — during player-run practices. Giving a semblance of autonomy to his quarterback helped DeBoer discern the value of their private meetings, work in the QB room and areas he could address better.

There is zero question about Milroe’s buy-in under the new coaching staff and DeBoer.

“He believes in me. He loves me. There’s nothing greater than that,” Milroe said. “Beyond the Xs and Os and going over the schemes, it’s the belief system a coach has in a player. You want to do your best each and every day because you have a coach that’s behind you and wants the best for you. It’s been fun. To be around him has been awesome.”

Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan will call plays for Alabama and have Milroe’s ear in the newly adopted headset communication system. But Milroe has shown in the nearly nine months DeBoer has been on the job that he can do more than steer the offense.

“Now it’s really playing football, understanding situations, getting on the same page with both Nick Sheridan, the play caller, and myself and working through all of those things,” DeBoer said Wednesday. “And then there’s the leadership piece, too. You know, he does such a great job of that, both on and off the field. He holds himself to extremely high standard in all ways. And he leads through example, he leads just with his poise and body language and then his words as well.”

Milroe had 35 total touchdowns last season (12 rushing) and had one interception after the month of October in 2023. Western Kentucky was in the top 10 in the country in takeaways, but Milroe said his role isn’t to play perfect. It’s to execute DeBoer’s plan to perfection.

“Coach DeBoer always talks about relentless pursuit of the team’s improvement,” Milroe said.

Teammates are following the lead of Milroe, but that’s nothing new. Offensive lineman Tyler Booker said last month at SEC Media Days that opponents would be seeing Milroe on a “new level” in the DeBoer system.

“I feel like it will allow Jalen to be himself, especially the way I’ve seen coach DeBoer and Jalen interact,” Booker said. “He wants to do what Jalen can do well, build on that, and the other playmakers on offense as well. Letting Jalen play his game is the best thing that we can do.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) celebrates after hitting Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jermaine Burton (3) for a touchdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Texas defeated Alabama 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr. -USA TODAY Sports

Alabama reinstates Jalen Milroe as starting QB

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Jalen Milroe regained the starting quarterback job for No. 13 Alabama on Monday after sitting out this weekend’s lackluster win against South Florida.

Milroe started the first two games for the Crimson Tide (2-1) but was benched following a 34-24 home loss to Texas on Sept. 9.

Tyler Buchner started Saturday’s 17-3 win against the Bulls and completed just 5 of 14 passes for 34 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Ty Simpson took over late in the first half and was 5-of-9 passing for 73 yards, no TDs and no picks. He ran for a 1-yard TD with 33 seconds left.

Milroe, who won the QB1 battle during the offseason, did not play against USF but still managed to make a strong impression on head coach Nick Saban.

“From a quarterback standpoint, this is all I’m going to say about this,” Nick Saban said Monday. “Jalen really showed the leadership that I was looking for during the game, in terms of supporting his teammates and doing the things he needed to do.

“He’s had the opportunity to play. So have the other guys. Jalen played the best of all those guys and so I think he’s earned the opportunity to be the quarterback.”

Alabama, which fell out of the Top 10 on Sunday for the first time in eight years, opens Southeastern Conference play on Saturday against No. 15 Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa, Miss.

Milroe, a redshirt sophomore who started one game in 2022, is 27-for-45 for 449 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He has also rushed for 92 yards and two scores.

–Field Level Media