Kalen DeBoer details early growth from Jalen Milroe in new system

As fall camp begins, the real work once again gets underway for Alabama as it makes the transition fully into the Kalen DeBoer era. For no one is this period more important than for quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Milroe will be tasked with captaining DeBoer’s offense, only several months removed from his first meaningful experience at the college level.

Through each period of practice, DeBoer is watching like a hawk, offering up whatever advice he can to his uber-athletic gunslinger.

“I just try to, most racks, when I talk about racks, whatever, four, five places or a drive in practice, I just love following up with him and he just takes all the coaching and he knows when I coach him up that’s my job,” DeBoer said.

Jalen Milroe emerged as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks last season, but it wasn’t a journey without ups and downs. He was benched after just two games in 2023, then was able to regain the starting role going forward.

Once he recovered the role, he was a different player.

Confidence seemed to grow and Jalen Milroe quickly became more comfortable leading the team. He finished his season with 2,834 yards passing for 23 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also rushing for 531 yards and 12 scores.

With a full slate in 2024, he could well emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Of course, that’s if he gets a handle of DeBoer’s offense fully. That’s going to be an ongoing process during fall camp. DeBoer has a laundry list of things he’s working on with his quarterback.

“We talk about teaching and critiquing and demanding excellence and the best, and he takes that,” DeBoer said. “Every play looking for it and working to be better. But I thought he had a really solid day all around. I know he’s not even what he’ll be next week, much less the first day.”

It’s hardly a surprise that Milroe is now coming into his own. He’s been highly touted for a while.

As a recruit, Jalen Milroe was a four-star prospect and the No. 89 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He also checked in as the No. 12 quarterback in his class and the No. 16 overall player in the state of Texas.