Football at Alabama has long been synonymous with headlining talent and first-round pedigree. But it’s only been just a handful of years since the NFL has begun to prioritize the quarterback position in Tuscaloosa.
While years past saw the likes of A.J. McCarron and Greg McElroy light up the SEC only to go rather undervalued in the NFL’s eyes, the recent era of talent in Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Jalen Hurts (before transferring to Oklahoma), and Bryce Young has become a consistent pipeline for signal-callers bound for the NFL. Next in line is Jalen Milroe, an electric dual-threat whose dynamic skill set could very well land him among the favorites to win the Heisman this season should all come to fruition.
A former four-star recruit out of Katy, Texas, Milroe’s fundamental arm talent and athleticism to expand a playbook has shone a vast spotlight on his ever-improving game. After a 2023 season of flashes, Milroe’s development, particularly inside of structure, has become a focal point for Alabama’s offensive resurgence in the post-Bryce Young era.
While many will place Milroe in a bucket due to his acceleration and ability to take it for six off-script on each play, he’s much, much more than just an athlete under center. He’s a processor, a talented quarterback inside the pocket, and beyond any lazy comparisons that often draw comparisons to a ‘running back playing quarterback.’
What also stands out in Milroe’s game is his ability to improve the talent around him. There isn’t a DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Jameson Williams, or Jaylen Waddle type on the outside. And there certainly isn’t a Julio Jones lining up on the perimeter each week for first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer. Rather, the Crimson Tide are headlined by 17-year-old true freshman Ryan Williams, who leads Alabama in all major receiving categories early on in 2024. It’s not to say talent isn’t in the building—Alabama always recruits well—but Milroe’s ability to elevate those around him, while also putting the offense on his back at times in the ground game, showcases a leader under center that can put an offense in a position to succeed no matter his surroundings.
Arm Talent
Milroe’s arm talent has always remained one of his standout qualities. Whether it’s touting the velocity and natural ability to push the ball down the field vertically or pushing throws into condensed windows, his ability to push the football to all three levels of a defense both inside and outside the numbers is a trait scouts have raved about for years.
What sets him apart from a typical dual-threat quarterback, however, is that he isn’t just a runner who happens to throw the football in the shallow areas; he is a legitimate threat as a passer capable of threading the needle on high-leverage downs or layering the ball on a crossing route behind the LB and in front of the safety. It’s nice that with a flick of the wrist, Milroe can rip a throw 60 yards downfield, but refining his accuracy and touch, especially on short-to-intermediate throws, has seen Milroe grow at the position in the last calendar year. At times in the past, his natural horsepower or inconsistent mechanics led to overthrows, but the 2024 season thus far has shown signs of marked improvement in the DeBoer-led offense that assisted in Michael Penix Jr’s development over the last two college campaigns.
While his improvements in the pocket and aforementioned ability as a pure pocket passer deserve more attention, I’d be remiss to not mention Milroe's dual-threat capability which makes him one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in all of college football. At 6-foot-2, 220-plus pounds, he combines the speed of a sprinter with the power of a linebacker, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses to contain. His running ability isn’t just a complementary skill—it can take over a football game. Just ask LSU, where Milroe ran for 164 yards and four TDs in Alabama’s 42-28 win last November.
His explosiveness adds another dimension to an offense. Designed quarterback powers and direct snaps, read-options, and scramble drills all become integral parts of a playbook with Milroe under center. His acceleration and ability to break tackles in the open field make him a home-run threat every time he kicks into gear, forcing each set of eyes on defense to account for him on every snap.
This fall, Milroe has improved in his ability to keep his eyes downfield when plays break down, as well. While many dual-threat QBs’ eyes can often drift down when the pocket collapses, Milroe’s ability to evade pressure and extend the play at full speed behind the line of scrimmage is a trait that will translate to the highest level of the game. It puts an enormous amount of pressure on defensive coordinators, who have to balance getting after Milroe while maintaining gap discipline to prevent him from creating chunk plays with either his arm or legs.
Growth Inside the Pocket: From Raw Talent to Polished Decision-Maker
Milroe’s natural athleticism has never been in doubt, but his progression as a pocket passer is what will ultimately determine his ceiling as a quarterback. Early in his career, he tended to bail out of the pocket, trusting in his legs to make plays rather than standing tall and delivering passes with bodies in throwing lanes. It’s a common trait seen in young quarterbacks of all levels at the end of the day, but an area where Milroe has made noticeable strides just a few games into his 2024 season.
In games against Western Kentucky (63-0), South Florida (42-16), and Wisconsin (42-10) so far, Milroe has demonstrated improved poise and patience inside of structure. He has been increasingly willing to go through his progressions, balancing moving the sticks with shot plays, while also taking care of the football (8 TDs and 0 INTs through Week 3). What has been particularly encouraging is his increased awareness of the pocket’s structure, something we saw of Penix in his move from Indiana to Washington. Milroe is learning to feel pressure and make subtle movements to avoid the rush while keeping his eyes downfield. His ability to climb the pocket, reset his lower half, and deliver accurate throws has taken a significant step forward.
Elevating Those Around Him
One of the biggest challenges for Alabama in 2024 is the relative inexperience and lack of proven talent at the wide receiver position. Outside of the true freshman in Williams, the Crimson Tide don’t have the star-studded receiving corps that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in Tuscaloosa. With new faces in new places following DeBoer from his days in the Pac-12, a quarterback who can elevate the talent around him is an invaluable trait teams attempt to identify in the draft process.
A franchise’s environment and player-to-scheme fit hold a ton of weight toward a young quarterback's success in the early stages of the NFL. Drafting a player that has succeeded—with fresh surroundings in abundance—in the toughest conference in college football, means a whole lot. Milroe’s dual-threat nature forces defenders to account for him at all times, which opens up opportunities for his receivers to find soft spots in a defense. If separation isn’t there early in his progression, Milroe’s ability to extend plays has provided young receivers—like Williams—extra time to work open, making them more effective than they might be in a more traditional offense.
Furthermore, Milroe’s leadership within the hashes has become increasingly evident. He carries himself with a swagger and confidence all teams want to see in the potential face of their franchise. His ability to keep the offense moving, even when Alabama’s aerial attack isn’t firing on all cylinders, has been a stabilizing force thus far. When the deep ball to Williams isn’t there, Milroe’s decision-making and play-making ability on the ground provide a fallback option that can keep drives alive. Whether it’s picking up an extra few yards to work into a more fortuitous down and distance, or making three defenders miss in space for a chunk play, Milroe’s production when the game clock is running has seen him become one of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers.
In all, Milroe is much, much more than just a dynamic athlete. His growth as a passer, particularly inside the pocket, combined with his natural arm strength and dual-threat ability, has showcased many of the traits NFL evaluators search to identify as the pre-draft process ramps up.
As Alabama navigates a transitional period on offense in DeBoer’s first year, Milroe—and his annually evolving skill set—has proven that he can be the engine that drives not only the Alabama offense to a potential CFP title but a prolonged and potentially electrifying career at the game’s highest level.
