Jalen Oluwaseun Isaiah Milroe (born December 13, 2002) is an American football quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Jalen Milroe
Milroe in 2023
Alabama Crimson Tide – No. 4
PositionQuarterback
Class
Redshirt
Redshirt
Junior
Personal information
Born: (2002-12-13) December 13, 2002 (age 21)
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolObra D. Tompkins (Katy)
Career highlights and awards

High school career

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Milroe attended Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas. As a junior, he threw for 2,689 yards and 29 touchdowns adding an additional eight touchdowns rushing and 378 yards.[1] In 2020 as a senior, he passed for 1,136 yards and 13 touchdowns.[2] During his high school career, Milroe tallied 3,825 passing yards, 559 rushing yards, and 53 total touchdowns leading Tompkins to over 30 wins in three seasons.[3] He originally committed to Texas before deciding to switch to the University of Alabama.[4]

College career

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During his freshman year at Alabama, Milroe was the backup to sophomore quarterback Bryce Young throughout the 2021 season. As a result Milroe was redshirted. During the season he appeared in four games completing three passes for 41 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 57 yards on 15 carries.[5] He began the 2022 season remaining the backup to Bryce Young. In Alabama's Spring Game, Milroe completed 11 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.[6] In his first appearance of the season, he recorded eight completions, 76 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.[7] He would make minor appearances in relief against Louisiana Monroe and Vanderbilt, before he would take over as the quarterback in week four against Arkansas after an injury to Bryce Young. Milroe would throw and rush for a touchdown each, leading Alabama to a 49–26 victory.[8] One week later, he would make his first career start against Texas A&M, throwing for three touchdowns and recording three turnovers in a 24–20 win.[9][10]

 
Milroe during the 2023 SEC Championship Game.

2023

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Entering the 2023 season, with the departure of Young, Milroe competed with Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner for Alabama's starting quarterback job, with Milroe eventually being named the starter.[11][12] In week one against Middle Tennessee, Milroe combined for a total of five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, while throwing for 194 yards on 13 completions, leading Alabama to a 56–7 victory.[13] The following week, Milroe threw for 255 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 24–34 defeat against No. 11 Texas, his first career loss as a starter.[14] Subsequently, he was demoted as the team's starting quarterback, with Tyler Buchner being named the starter against USF.[15][16] Heading into Alabama's SEC opener against Ole Miss the following week, Nick Saban announced that Milroe would be the team's starting quarterback for the rest of the season, after a poor showing from Buchner against USF the prior week.[17] Against No. 14 LSU, Milroe rushed for a then career-high 155 yards and four touchdowns, while also throwing for 219 yards in a 42–28 victory.[18] The following week, Milroe totaled six total touchdowns, three passing and three rushing, leading Alabama to a 49–21 rout of Kentucky.[19][20] Against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, Milroe threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond on fourth and goal from the Auburn 31 yard line with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter.[21] [22] He finished the game throwing for 254 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for an additional 107 yards.[23]

During the 2023 regular season, Milroe led Alabama to a 12–1 record, including an SEC Championship.[24] During the 2023 SEC Championship Game, he passed for two touchdowns and 192 yards and was named the game's MVP in a 27–24 victory over No. 1 Georgia.[25] Milroe finished the year with 23 passing touchdowns, 2,718 passing yards, six interceptions, and twelve rushing touchdowns.[26] Against No. 1 Michigan in the 2024 Rose Bowl, Milroe threw for 116 yards and rushed for an additional 63 yards, as Alabama was defeated by Michigan 20–27 in overtime.[27]

2024

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In the season opener against Western Kentucky, Milroe totaled five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, in a 63–0 victory.[28] Against No. 2 Georgia, he threw for 374 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Ryan Williams, while also rushing for 117 yards and an additional two touchdowns, leading Alabama to a 41–34 victory.[29] Against No. 15 LSU, Milroe rushed for a career-high 185 yards and four touchdowns in a 42–13 victory.[30][31]

Statistics

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College statistics
Season Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Comp Att Pct Yards Avg TD Int Rate Att Yards Avg TD
2021 4 0 0–0 3 7 42.9 41 5.9 1 0 139.2 15 57 3.8 0
2022 8 1 1–0 31 53 58.5 297 5.6 5 3 125.4 31 263 8.5 1
2023 13 13 11–2 187 284 65.8 2,834 10.0 23 6 172.2 161 531 3.3 12
2024 11 11 8–3 171 263 65.0 2,396 9.1 15 9 153.5 135 615 4.6 17
Career 36 25 20–5 392 607 64.6 5,568 9.2 44 18 159.6 342 1,466 4.3 30

Personal life

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Milroe is a Christian and was baptized in 2022.[32]

In 2023, Milroe and fellow Crimson Tide athlete Terrion Arnold launched LANK (Let All Naysayers Know) merch, which has been sold at Alabama merch stores and distributed to Crimson Tide alumni in the NFL, such as Jalen Hurts.[33]

References

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  1. ^ Coleman, Adam (August 18, 2020). "Tompkins QB Jalen Milroe decommits from Texas, commits to Alabama". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  2. ^ Silva, Dennis (December 16, 2020). "Tompkins QB Milroe finds right fit at Alabama". Katy Times. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  3. ^ Smith, Stephen M. (July 15, 2021). "Alabama freshman quarterback, Jalen Milroe showing impressive strength this offseason". Touchdown Alabama. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  4. ^ VanHaaren, Tom (August 18, 2020). "ESPN 300 QB Milroe flips from Texas to Alabama". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Kelly, Nick (September 3, 2022). "Jalen Milroe: 3 things to know about the Alabama football quarterback". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  6. ^ Rodak, Mike (April 16, 2022). "Milroe shows promise after Tide challenges backup QB". AL.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "Tide Steamrolls Utah State to open 2022 with a Bang, 55–0". Biscuits and SEC. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Casagrande, Michael (October 2, 2022). "Milroe had 2 conversations after injury thrust QB into spotlight". AL.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Scott, Jelani (October 8, 2022). "Report: Alabama Decides on Bryce Young's Status for Texas A&M Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Alabama football survives Texas A&M on final play, overcoming Bryce Young's absence". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Low, Chris (September 1, 2023). "Sources: Milroe earns QB1 status for Tide opener". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Alvarez, Nick (September 1, 2023). "What Saban told Alabama's new starting quarterback Jalen Milroe ahead of Week 1". AL.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Stahl, Matt (September 3, 2023). "Jalen Milroe produces 5 Alabama touchdowns before sitting against MTSU". AL.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  14. ^ Alvarez, Nick (September 10, 2023). "Why Saban didn't bench Jalen Milroe against Texas: 'We never discussed it'". AL.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "Sources: Alabama to start QB Buchner vs. USF". ESPN.com. September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Kelly, Nick (September 15, 2023). "Tyler Buchner, not Jalen Milroe, expected to start at QB for Alabama football vs. USF". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  17. ^ Scarborough, Alex (September 18, 2023). "Saban gives Tide QB job to Milroe for SEC opener". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Heim, Mark (November 5, 2023). "Alabama's Jalen Milroe on LSU win: 'So that was (Nick Saban's) birthday gift right there'". AL.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "Jalen Milroe has 6 touchdowns, No. 8 Alabama blows out Kentucky 49–21 to clinch SEC West title". Newsday. Associated Press. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "Jalen Milroe (six total TDs) fuels No. 8 Alabama past Kentucky". Tulsa World. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  21. ^ "Milroe's TD pass to Bond on fourth-and-31 rescues No. 8 Alabama in 27-24 win over Auburn". NBC Sports. Associated Press. November 26, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  22. ^ Speegle, Jeff (November 25, 2023). "Alabama beats Auburn 27–24 on dramatic "Gravedigger" play". WBMA. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Heim, Mark (November 26, 2023). "Jalen Milroe screams 'give me the Heisman' after Alabama beats Auburn in Iron Bowl". AL.com. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  25. ^ Kurup, Sahil (December 2, 2023). "Jalen Milroe quotes Jalen Hurts after Alabama's SEC championship win: 'I had my purpose'". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  26. ^ Stahl, Matt (December 4, 2023). "Alabama's Jalen Milroe not among 2023 Heisman Trophy finalists". AL.com. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Reedy, Joe (January 2, 2024). "Jalen Milroe nearly rallies Alabama back, but falls 2 yards short in OT against Michigan". AP News. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Zenor, John (September 1, 2024). "No. 5 Alabama, Jalen Milroe rout Western Kentucky 63-0 in coach Kalen DeBoer's debut". AP News. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Goodbread, Chase (September 28, 2024). "Alabama football QB Jalen Milroe took his game, and stature, to a new level". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  30. ^ Darcey, Reed (November 9, 2024). "Once again, LSU defense allows Jalen Milroe to run wild in a crushing loss to Alabama". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  31. ^ Heim, Mark (November 10, 2024). "Alabama's Jalen Milroe explains what he saw when running against LSU". al. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  32. ^ Smith, Stephen M. (July 3, 2022). "Alabama QB Jalen Milroe shows his faith in Christ by getting baptized". Touchdown Alabama. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  33. ^ Curtright, Adam (January 1, 2024). "What does Alabama's LANK mean? How Jalen Milroe, Terrion Arnold created Crimson Tide mantra". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
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