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Jalen Milroe improvises on rushing touchdown vs. Middle Tennessee State

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh09/02/23

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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

We know what Jalen Milroe can bring to the table as a quarterback. Whenever plays break down, Milroe’s feet are going to be a problem for opposing defenses. There will be dangers even when offensive coordinator Tommy Rees decides to call a designed run.

Heading into Saturday, Nick Saban likely wanted to see what Milroe could offer in the pass game. Well, after one drive, the Alabama head coach is going to have to wait. Milroe opened the game with an impressive touchdown, coming on a broken play.

A snap from center Seth McLaughlin was not good, rolling right by Milroe. He decided to pick the ball up instead of falling on it — a decision that paid off. He evaded a few Middle Tennessee State defenders and found himself in the end zone.

The 21-yard touchdown gave Alabama a 7-0 lead, showcasing the incredible ability Milroe has when deciding to use his feet.

You can watch the full play from Milroe here.

Ahead of the game, Saban said Milroe has “just got to perform” as the starting quarterback. Other guys are going to get onto the field, with the competition not truly being over. Milroe needs to show confidence on the field and is off to a good start following the botched snap.

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“I think it’s all about how he performs and how he plays,” Saban said during a pregame interview with SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic. “We want him to be confident in how he plays and what he’s doing. He’s prepared well. I think Tommy has a good job with him. I think we got a good plan. Just got to perform.”

One drive in and Saban likely will be happy with the performance. There is still more football to play, with Milroe looking for some consistency. Showing signs of it would go a big way in winning the job long-term.

Jalen Milroe getting opportunity to start for Alabama

Milroe is getting the opportunity against Middle Tennessee State and if everything goes well, the same will be true against Texas. There is a history between Milroe and the Longhorns, being a long-time commit when Tom Herman was running the program.

A talking point for sure, a lot more will be made of how Milroe performs on Saturday. A good showing likely will instill more confidence in the Alabama staff ahead of the Texas game — one of the more highly-anticipated nonconference games in recent history.