Everything Alabama's trio of players said at 2024 SEC Media Days
DALLAS – Alabama kicked off Day 3 of SEC Media Days at the Omni Dallas Hotel, and three Crimson Tide players spoke to reporters throughout the morning. Below are full transcripts of what Tyler Booker, Jalen Milroe and Malachi Moore said in the electronic media room.
TYLER BOOKER, OL
Q. I want to know what do you think helps stabilize a locker room during a period of change?
TYLER BOOKER: Togetherness really helps to stabilize a locker room during a period of change. This is the tightest knit group is right now since my past three years of being here because we have been through an experience together. I’m not going to say it’s traumatic, but we’ve been through something together. So we can all look at each other no matter what we’re going through and be like ok, this guy stayed when it was hard, this guy stayed when it was hard, because it was easy for them. We’re being looking at each in the locker room saying this is my brother. He stayed here for me.
Q. New Haven in the house?
TYLER BOOKER: Yes, sir.
Q. Tyler, the offensive line is like a chorus line. How do you stay in step together to improve last year when you had a lot of sacks?
TYLER BOOKER: We have been taking a lot of time to work on our pass protection individually and we have been taking a lot of sets together as well because there was a lot of transition in the offensive line, people were moving around in different spots. So now that we have guys playing next to each other, we have three returning starters and we have been focusing on working together even without the coaches on our free time. That’s how bad we want to be great. That’s how bad we want it and while we did fall short when it came to pass protection last year, we are going to build on our run game.
Q. Tyler, I want to go back to your first question from George. In the coach and transition, right? The three guys that kinda pulled the locker room together were you and Jalen and Malachi. All three of you looking around, some are gone. Walk me through those 72 hours where you all I assume got together and said we’ve got to hold this thing down.
TYLER BOOKER: First of all I’m the lucky one because I got my guy back. But those first 72 hours were crucial, and we said hey we’re going to stay here and win a national championship. Malachi has one from his freshman year but we want one. We want this to be our team, our national championship. We have the talent in house to be able to do that. We were 7 points away from winning a national championship. We can’t lose sight of that so we had to try our best to keep everybody here but to everybody who left, we wish them the best of luck.
Q. Oklahoma and Texas bring a storied rivalry to the SEC but what can those fans expect and see out of other rivalries in the SEC?
TYLER BOOKER: They have a great rivalry, the Red River rivalry but the SEC has them as well, the Iron Bowl, us playing Tennessee and this is a conference built off of tradition where we are blessed to have two storied programs in this conference to make it better.
Q. Kind of a fun question, the Olympics are coming up. I was wondering if you were to be an Olympian and you were on an Olympic team, what team would you be a part of or what sport would you play?
TYLER BOOKER: I would do track and I would throw. Up to the 8th grade I threw shot put, discus and javelin. I was good in shot put and discus but in javelin I won regionals for the northeast. So if I wasn’t playing football I would be out there heading to Paris soon.
Q. Guys don’t get too many recruits from the Chattanooga area but Amari Jefferson is coming in for you guys. Do you see the play-making abilities he has and maybe separating from the pack and contributing on the team in the fall or in the future?
TYLER BOOKER: Definitely. Amari and a bunch of other guys have come in ready to work. These guys don’t complain, they’re looking for ways to get better. For example, Will Sanders is in my office in my room. Every day after practice it’s how do you this, how do you do that? They’re so ready and willing to learn. I’m excited to be able to teach those guys this year.
Q. What can you say are the biggest deferences between an off-season with head coach Nick Saban and an off season under Kalen DeBoer and what’s similar about their approaches?
TYLER BOOKER: There weren’t many differences. Schedule wise, we had a few practices before spring break and I feel like that helped because we were able to go over the break with practices under our belt. Obviously the practice schedule was different but same intensity, we have a lot of walk-throughs, we did a lot of things to prepare for this upcoming season, like I said, the intensity, that Bama standard hasn’t changed.
Q. Tyler, last season in the Arkansas-Alabama game Landon Jackson 3 and a half sacks, what do you remember about going against him in that game?
TYLER BOOKER: Landon Jackson had a great game that day, he is a great player.
Q. The difference with Saban and DeBoer, a lot of people are saying a little more relaxed with media it’s more wide open. How do you as a leader keep your team responsible for this is Bama standard?
TYLER BOOKER: I wouldn’t say it’s more relaxed, Coach DeBoer lets the media in more but the standard is the standard on the field, off the field, in the classroom on the microphone. So the standard is the standard. You’re going to represent your family and yourself and the team most importantly in the best way possible.
Q. What do you think of your former coach, Coach Saban, picking Texas and Georgia to play in the title game? Is that early rat poisoning for this group?
TYLER BOOKER: Not necessarily. You can’t pay attention to things this early in the year, I don’t deal in hypotheticals. He taught me that so he would be glad to hear me say that.
Q. What do you think the change to morning practices will do for the team? How do you think that’s going to maybe help this year, getting ready for this year?
TYLER BOOKER: I think morning practices will definitely help because we’re going to practice in the morning, go to class and then in the afternoon we will have time to recover, get ready for the next day, watch film, meet with our coaches. It’s more time on the back end of the day because when we had afternoon practice you only had so much time before you had to go to study hall, eat, get ready for the next day. So I feel morning practices are going to be a great change for us.
Q. The 2023 Iron Bowl, that final drive at any moment did doubt creep in? Your most vivid memories of those last couple of plays?
TYLER BOOKER: Those last couple of plays I was just thinking about scenarios of how we would win. Doubt never creeped into my mind, and I think that’s the way I’m wired. I feel like as long as there is time on that clock, we have a chance to win, doesn’t matter what’s going on.
If you let doubt creep in, you’re not a real competitor, you’re not a true competitor. You have to believe in yourself before anybody else believes in you. If guys see me with my head down, talking about we lost the game, what is that going to do to everybody else. That whole time I’m thinking about how we can win this game, how I can perform to the best of my abilities to help my team win.
Q. I feel like Jalen has the potential for a Heisman year. What do you see in him, his growth and what are your expectations for him this season?
TYLER BOOKER: I’m blessed to be able to play with Jalen. Jalen is a great quarterback, but even better leader. He is a person I leaned on during the transition as well. I just expect a great season out of Jalen. As for the offensive line, we’re going to give him the time he needs, the holes he needs and whatever he needs in order to be great and do his job to the highest of his abilities.
Q. I’m wondering how the last play of the Rose Bowl is sitting with you and if it’s fueling you to this point?
TYLER BOOKER: Definitely the whole Rose Bowl is fueling us to this year. We understand we fell short, and we’re so close to our end goal we’re going to let that drive us this year but we’re not going to dwell on it too long, we’re going to look forward to this upcoming season.
But the Rose Bowl is something we look forward to this season. Whenever you don’t feel like working hard, just think, we didn’t work hard enough in that game.
JALEN MILROE, QB
Q. Jalen, I just had a question about Ryan Williams. Have y’all built some chemistry so far? What do you think his potential is to play this season?
JALEN MILROE: It’s been great to have Ryan on campus. He was a guy that came in the summertime. So for me it’s about good chemistry and getting to know my teammates and that’s what happens in the off season, getting to know my teammates. I tried to get to know Ryan, he is trying to master the game plan and master us as a group. It’s new. I was a guy that came in and it was all about finding your place and trying to get better and also meeting new guys. So that’s a guy that I tried to build a relationship with, with our reps together he’s done a really good job building, getting better and he’s a guy that’s likeable around the whole campus, and all the coaching staff. It’s a guy that’s a key resource for Alabama.
Q. I know you’ve been doing camps throughout the summertime with the kids. Talk about the fun and the excitement that you had in Mobile a couple of days ago. And also a second part, the mental health aspect of things that you brought out and how you have been affected by it and how you can help others by talking about the mental aspect of it?
JALEN MILROE: Firstly the camps, my first was in Tuscaloosa at Hillcrest High, what a great moment. That was one of my goals was to host my first camp, host a camp and it was a sense of giving back to the community. In allowing kids to have fun and branch off and meet new people and have an opportunity to play the game of football. The game of football is beautiful. It’s a vehicle for allowing you to meet other people, but it’s also a journey where you can meet people and build on your craft and that’s something I try to utilize is the game with having these camps initially. With the camps I just had it was awesome to be there with the kids, be in ball with the camp, able to play 7 on 7 with the kids, saw some good gritty moves, good dance moves, a lot of kids having fun in the hot sun so they were grinding. But it was a lot of fun to have the camps. I look forward to building and having more camps in the future so that was very exciting.
Secondly, you asked about the mental health aspect. That is a strength that people must have to be successful in the game of football. You might not realize it until you hit a tough moment on your journey. It’s all about being around the right people that uplift you and also being around people that want to see the best from you and in you. That’s all what it came down to. I’m a strong believer in faith and having that on your side. It gives you direction and purpose. It gives you the strength in any opportunity that is presented that adversity might pop up. Mental health is something you should truly be strong in.
Q. Jalen, two-part question. Going into the LSU game, you didn’t have a lot of yardage rushing and you took over that game as a runner. What transpired in that game, and second, your thoughts on going to Tiger Stadium and what you have seen and heard about that this year?
JALEN MILROE: One thing that Coach Saban said to me, whether distributing the ball to our play makers, whether using your legs, put the ball in play so the offense can be successful but also doing things that’s all part of the game plan. Of course try to master the game plan throughout the week and looking at some of Tennessee’s weaknesses from our opposing opponent and when it came to that week it was all about attacking the game plan and trying to do what was best for our offense, whether it was my arm or my legs, that’s what truly took place.
Secondly, your question about going to Tiger Stadium, what a great opportunity. Being a road warrior. SEC is the best conference, especially with Alabama you’re going to get everybody’s best game. So anticipating the great crowd and energy and super excited playing on the road.
Q. Kirby Smart did say yesterday any win in the SEC is a big win, and Oklahoma is going to come to expect tough Saturdays on the road. Talk about what Oklahoma can expect on the road in the SEC and what has been your roughest road game during your career at Alabama?
JALEN MILROE: First question, I’ve had a great experience playing in the SEC with just seeing all the enthusiasm, the energy, the tough games that’s played in the SEC with all the competition. So I’ve seen a lot with my time being in college. I can just say they’re going to have a lot of competitive games and also a great experience playing in the SEC.
Number one, the resources provided with being a student-athlete and being a student-athlete at an SEC school, a lot is poured into the universities and what a great opportunity with that being in the SEC. Super happy for them to have that experience. What a great opportunity with them being a part of the SEC. What was your second question?
Q. (Away from mic.)
JALEN MILROE: Oh, playing on the road is hard. That’s something that we try to embrace in the off-season, the challenges that may be presented in the future with playing on the road. It’s hard and they are down one because everybody wants to give Alabama their best game and a lot of energy in the building. So it’s hard to narrow down one but it’s super tough playing in the SEC.
Q. Jalen, do you mind describing your fit to us?
JALEN MILROE: Well, okay, so it was down to three suits. I was trying to decide which color I was going to wear. Whether it was a light suit, a black suit that was neutral, and a lighter color, it was hard to decide.
I want you to guess when I decided to put that on, I decided this morning. I hope I look all right because I decided this morning right before our flight. It came down to the shoes. You got to start with the shoes when you start your outfit off so I got the black Pradas on and then you build up from there.
Q. Your lineman, Tyler Booker, mentioned that not just that final play in the Rose Bowl has motivated you all so far this season, but really the entirety of the game with miscues that you wish you could have back. Being that your Coach Kalen DeBoer had some miscues, has he used that game to motivate you to and how?
JALEN MILROE: What a great question. There are a lot of things that you can reflect on from past seasons and number one for us was last year. We were blessed and fortunate to be in the college playoffs, one game away. What burn do you need more than being that close to the championship and so for us, we’re passionate about each other and also passionate about achieving short-term goals and long-term goals in this process and we can all reflect from it. We shared the same experience from Coach DeBoer with failing to achieve a national championship so now it’s about refocusing and focusing on our spring 2024 football season.
Q. When we were at the Rose Bowl you told us about doubters, some of your even your coaches previously. Now you’re going into a season where you are highly respected by the media and especially going into a Heisman run. Does your mindset change?
JALEN MILROE: I think it’s the same, being the best version of myself, being the best quarterback in the country, learning, growing as a player, seeking all information from my coaching staff, being a student of the game. I think it’s all about going 1-0, and the grind doesn’t stop. That cliche term, the grind and the stop. Each and every day that you have the opportunity to play the game of football, seize it. Try to do what’s best for the football team in a sense. So I say, you know, for me, and my development, it’s all about getting better and leaning on my brothers because it’s going to be a chance where we play a game one and it’s all about attacking the task at hand which is being the best version of myself, entering the building and having a rep each and every day that I have on the practice field.
MALACHI MOORE, DB
Q. Malachi, how important was it for you and your teammates, get everybody together and make sure you stay in Tuscaloosa and not enter the transfer portal because that’s common when you get a new head coach?
MALACHI MOORE: Right, it was very important. It was our main focus when Coach Saban made his decision and the leaders on the team tried to get everybody together and get a level head and don’t make any rash decisions.
Q. Malachi, talk about being named a permanent team captain, what that means to you and your legacy, helping this momentum shift with the coaching change moving forward.
MALACHI MOORE: Right, it definitely means a lot. My teammates picked me to be a permanent captain at the end of the year and it’s something that I definitely have a high regard to. It’s definitely a great honor be appointed by your teammates, your brothers, somebody that you go to work with each and every day for just being yourself and them recognizing you and your leadership, it was a special moment.
Q. Malachi, what’s been the biggest difference in philosophies between Nick Saban and now Kalen DeBoer? And then who’s got the better fit here, you or Jalen?
MALACHI MOORE: That’s a great question. Coach Saban and Coach DeBoer, they have two different coaching styles. Both of them work and are very effective but, like I said, they have two different ways of going about it and Coach DeBoer is more of a player-led type of coach. He kind of lets his players take over and lead a team. When he has things to say he definitely voices his opinion and let it be known and things on his mind.
Best fit? I would have to say me. Jalen got a little all black going on, I got a little color. So I’m going to have to go with myself.
Q. As Oklahoma enters this conference they understand that every Saturday, especially on the road, it’s going to be a dog fight. What can they expect in the SEC with road football games? What has been the toughest road game you have been to during your career playing at Alabama?
MALACHI MOORE: I can tell Oklahoma and Texas coming in that playing a road game on the SEC, there is nothing like it, there is nothing like it, the conference is second to none and everybody is going to be ready to go each and every week. Despite anybody’s record, each and every Saturday you can be beat if you don’t bring your best game and the fans are going to be tough for sure.
The toughest away game? I don’t know, man, every SEC away game is kinda the same for me. It’s loud, rowdy and my head is rattling after the game. But it’s a fun environment to play in. Going away to somebody else’s territory is always fun.
Q. Amari Jefferson is a freshman from our area that came in this summer. From your point of view, how has he adjusted and do you see him being a contributor down the line?
MALACHI MOORE: Amari has been doing a great job of coming to work each and every day. I think him coming in right now, his main focus needs to be just trying to learn the playbook and learn from the older guys that are there and try to use that in his way of seeing the field. All of our young guys are doing a great job of coming in and taking the coaching advise that the older guys are giving to them and I think this is one of the best young groups that we’ve had, talking about people coming in and be accepting of corrective criticism and not taking it to heart and knowing that we just want the best for everybody on the team.
Q. Malachi, keeping up with that, Ryan Williams is someone your teammates praised this week. What have you seen from him since he’s on campus this summer?
MALACHI MOORE: Ryan, it’s crazy to see how mature he is at such a young age. You talk about a kid who skipped his senior year to come be a freshman in college. You don’t see that every day and when I seen him at practice the first time I see why he did what he did, but he’s an electrifying player and he’s very smart and skilled at a very young age. He understands coverages, and it’s just — like I said, going back to his age, just to see how mature he is is really wonderful.
Q. Tyler said he never doubted the 2023 Iron Bowl for a second. I would love to get your take as Alabama came back and won the game?
MALACHI MOORE: Never any doubts. The last play of the game, 4th and 31, I told everybody in the offense, anybody who had a chance to catch the ball I was going to tell them, look, Bro, the ball come your way you can do it. After I did that, I was in the sideline, I turned around, put my head down, put a towel on my head, I didn’t want to see and all of the sudden I heard cheering, and it’s not that loud though, and I looked up and it was our fans cheering and I was like, what happened? What happened? But it was a crazy time.
Q. You had a chance to play Texas two years in a row. I’m curious playing them two seasons in a row, how do you think their talent compares to the SEC?
MALACHI MOORE: They’re a talented team. I think Coach Sark has done a great job coming in and brought in a winning culture that wasn’t there before, and the way he took them the first two years of being there and last year they made it to the College Football Playoffs. And they are a talented team on defense, special teams, and the offense and it’s great to have them in the SEC.
Q. We talked with Tyler and Jalen as well about the end of the season and how you guys are using the Rose Bowl as motivation going into this year as one of the leaders on this team. How are you reflecting on how the season ended and using that going forward?
MALACHI MOORE: I think about the Michigan game almost every day, so to say. Even fresh off of wake-up, 6:30, it’s the first thing on my mind coming to work every day. I think that’s one of our main driving factors. Everybody that was here has that bad taste in our mouth that we didn’t finish and we were right there. So that’s definitely a determining factor, whenever we get tired or think about not doing a rep or something like that, we remind — everybody on the team like don’t forget how that felt. Like, let’s not lose sight of what happened last year and how we felt after that game.
Q. Kind of a fun question for you. The Olympics are at the end of this month, I’m curious, if you weren’t playing football and you were going to the Olympics in Paris, which sport do you think you would be playing?
MALACHI MOORE: I got this question earlier. It’s crazy but I’m going to say basketball because I feel like that’s the closest thing that I could be an Olympian to, if that makes sense.
Q. We all hear stories about Coach Saban on the practice field, you guys have told it the past few years. Got any good ones of Kalen DeBoer in the short time here, to tell the fans?
MALACHI MOORE: Okay, it’s not really like a story, it’s more like me observing but Coach Saban, you know he always had a straw hat at practice, he always wore the same thing, if it was hot, khaki shorts and a little vest and little shirt. So you always knew who Coach Saban was based off his attire. But Coach DeBoer he has a regular Alabama hat on, Alabama tee shirt and shorts so the first couple of practices he would be standing by me and I would be like oh that’s Coach DeBoer, that’s the head coach right there, I didn’t know he was standing right there. I think that’s the biggest thing, seeing him move around the field and Coach Saban being on the defensive side, that was a big change for me.
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