Demarcus Riddick not impressed by Jalen Milroe's speed, promises to stop QB run

Auburn freshman Demarcus Riddick didn’t hesitate to start the Iron Bowl trash talk early this week. On Monday, the first-year linebacker made a bold claim when discussing Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

“He is a good quarterback,” Riddick said, per BamaCentral‘s Katie Windham. “He’s fast, but I mean, he’s not faster than me. He will not get out of that box this week.”

It’s certainly a bold claim. In Alabama’s 27-24 win over Auburn last season, Milroe erupted for 107 rushing yards on 18 carries. Not to mention, Milroe completed 16-of-his-24 pass attempts for 259 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Nonetheless, Riddick wasn’t at Auburn yet last year and now that he is, he has the utmost confidence. Milroe wasn’t the only player who Riddick targeted while talking to the media on Monday.

“Ryan Williams is Ryan Williams,” Riddick said. “Yeah he’s electric, all this and that. In my eyes, he ain’t really nobody to me. Ryan Williams is himself. He ain’t no big time player to me… Like I said, ‘Bama, it’s a big rivalry.

“Every rival team I played, I never lost to. I will not lose to ‘Bama while I’m here.”

With 25 tackles and three sacks this season, Riddick is more than capable of making an impact in the 2024 Iron Bowl. Nonetheless, the Alabama native may be getting ahead of himself stating that he’ll never lose to the Crimson Tide while at Auburn.

Alabama has won eight of the two programs’ last 10 meetings and is currently on a four-game win streak against the Tigers. Evidently, recent history doesn’t worry the Tigers. After all, Demarcus Riddick wasn’t the only one who didn’t mince words about facing off against Alabama this weekend.

“Really a revenge tour. We’re going in their place and we’re really just going to go into their crib and just take over and have fun while we’re doing it,” Auburn freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman said. “This is going to be some of the last memories we make with each other so let’s go make it a memorable game.”

Auburn and Alabama will square off at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ABC.