Brock Huard: Jalen Milroe could become a first-round NFL Draft pick within Kalen DeBoer's offense
When Alabama hired head coach Kalen DeBoer to follow in the footsteps of Nick Saban they didn’t just hire a proven winner, but an offensive mastermind who’s orchestrated one of the nation’s top-scoring offenses and passing attacks the past two seasons at Washington.
DeBoer now inherits Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, one of the nation’s best dual-threat quarterbacks last season who’s one of the early favorites to take home the Heisman Trophy this year. Who former NFL quarterback Brock Huard believes could have a lot of potential this upcoming season in a new offensive scheme.
“I mean he’s gonna bring some physical attributes there that are just different, that are just so unbelievably unique and I think a [Nick] Sheridan and a Kalen DeBoer will have some pretty fun clay to mold in that way. Like wow, look at what we’re able to do with him,” Huard told The Next Round.
Huard also acknowledged that DeBoer’s offense is not an easy one to learn and be in command of, predicated on the quarterback making a ton of pre-snap shifts and decisions. But if Milroe can do so given his abilities, the sky could be the limit for the second-year starter.
“The Huskies were fifth in America, top five in America in pre-snap movement, pre snap action, and that’s not just window dressing. That is showing you one thing, that’s getting to another. It’s why the Seahawks and Mike Macdonald in particular wanted this scheme because it’s diverse, because it creates matchups, because it’s hard to contend with,” Huard exlained.
“But you need a QB that can handle all of that, and the background that [Michael] Penix had in Indiana absolutely helped him hit the ground running in Seattle and Jalen’s gonna have a challenge in that way and he’s gonna have to grow in that way. And if he does, you’re talking about a first-round pick.”
Penix thrived in DeBoer’s offense the past two seasons and in now an NFL Draft hopeful, throwing for north of 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in back-to-back years as a pocket passer.
Milroe on the other hand developed in real-time throughout the 2023 season following a rocky start, ending the year with 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air along with 531 yards on the ground and 12 rushing scores. Leading the Crimson Tide to an undefeated season in the SEC, a conference championship win, and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Where according to Huard he showed that there’s still room for growth in his game.
“The number one thing he’s gonna have to do is process, that was a hard Rose Bowl to watch,” Huard admitted. “And while Michigan hammered Michael Penix, and hit him, and bruised him, and battered him it was because Michael had to throw it 51 times in that game and took a beating. But he was not sacked over and over and over and over as Milroe was in that first half where he was just seeing — I don’t want to say seeing ghosts, I mean he just wasn’t seeing it, he wasn’t processing it.”
Both Milroe and Penix did not have their strongest outings versus the national champion Wolverines. But if Milroe can further develop this offseason and master DeBoer’s offense given his attributes, the Alabama offense will surely be one of the most fascinating to watch next football season.