Tim Tebow reacts to Kirby Smart's comparison between him, Jalen Milroe

Earlier this week, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart compared Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to Tim Tebow. On Friday, Tebow weighed in on the comparison.

“He’s a whole lot faster and more explosive than I am, that’s for sure,” Tebow said. “I do think we have very different running styles, probably overall very different playing styles, but I love his game.

“Honestly, I really have loved it for a long time, even before this season — just you could see spurts of pieces of his game that other people just don’t have and can’t have. Just is so different and gifted.”

Tebow echoed Smart’s comments. When a reporter asked Smart about the similarities between the two run-heavy QBs, the 47-year-old head coach didn’t mince words.

“No offense to Tim Tebow, but this guy is different,” Smart said. “This guy is a bigger, physical version of [Lamar Jackson].”

Not bad company for Milroe. He’s earned it. In 11 starts this season, the redshirt sophomore has tallied 2,526 passing yards and 21 touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions. In the ground game, Milroe has totaled 439 rushing yards and an additional 12 touchdowns.

For comparison, Tebow amassed 3,286 passing yards, 895 rushing yards and 55 total touchdowns in his Heisman season in 2007. Although Milroe might not rival Tebow’s record-breaking numbers, he’s earned the Florida legend’s respect. Tebow claimed he always saw potential in the physically-gifted talent.

Tim Tebow had his eye on Jalen Milroe

“I remember parts of that that really showed up last year against Arkansas when he got some of his opportunities. Then, watching him over the last couple of years just in pregame, you would see him. You don’t know if he’s going to put everything together, but you just know, ‘OK there’s bits and pieces that could be really special.’

“In playing and in the last 10 years of doing this, a lot of guys walk by you. When he walks by you you’re like, ‘Dang, that dude’s kind of put together.’ This was as a freshman. So he just was very gifted.”

In his redshirt freshman season, Milroe entered in the second quarter against Arkansas after Bryce Young went down with an injury. He led the Tide offense to five touchdowns and 35 points across his eight drives, finishing with 65 passing yards, 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Alabama will need even more from Milroe on Saturday to down No. 1 Georgia. Tebow believes he can deliver.

“The way that he’s continued to take all those traits and abilities and improve them and improve his strengths but also improve his weaknesses, his decision making,” Milroe said. “What [offensive coordinator] Tommy [Rees] has implemented is some of the quarterback run, which I think will be more involved in this game than probably any other game.”

On Saturday, Alabama and Georgia will go head-to-head in the SEC Championship at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on CBS.