Kalen DeBoer on Jalen Milroe taking every first-team snap this spring: 'He certainly has been headlining that room'

Jalen Milroe is running with the ones, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer revealed on Wednesday. He has taken first-team rep under center so far this spring.

It seems as though Milroe, last season’s QB1, has impressed his new headman through the first few Crimson Tide practices this spring. Now, all signs are now pointing toward Milroe repeating as Alabama’s starting quarterback in 2024.

“We have some great ones in the room,” DeBoer said, via Mike Rodak on X. “Jalen certainly has been headlining that room and done a great job there.”

DeBoer was transparent after Alabama’s first spring practice, saying that Milroe was running with the first team from day one. With former five-star recruit Ty Simpson remaining on the roster for the 2024 season, there was a bit of debate on who DeBoer would go with. Those questions, for now, seem to be answered.

However, DeBoer also said that he wanted competition in his quarterback room regardless of where the depth chart stands.

“He’s putting everything into it along with the other guys that took those first reps,” DeBoer said at the time. “But I fully expect those guys that are really hungry to be pushing those guys that are ahead of them to be their best. That’s what you want in a football program.”

At the same time, Milroe’s resume speaks for itself. In 2023, he got better as the season progressed, leading Alabama to a 12-2 overall record and an SEC Championship victory over Georgia, which helped push the Crimson Tide into the College Football Playoff where they eventually fell to eventual national champions Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Milroe finished the year with 2,718 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He was also a significant threat on the ground, finishing the season with 468 rushing yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns on the ground. That type of dual-threat ability bodes well for DeBoer’s fast-paced offense.

As DeBoer and Milroe continue to develop their relationship during the early offseason, DeBoer’s comments should go a long way in affirming their trust. Now, it’s on Milroe to show DeBoer exactly what he showed Nick Saban when fighting for the same spot this time last year.

Alabama will kick the Kalen DeBoer era off with a Week 1 matchup against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31 inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. They’ll begin SEC play with a rematch of last year’s SEC Championship game against UGA — a game the entire nation will have its eyes on.