Jalen Milroe describes his chemistry with new Alabama OC Nick Sheridan

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Jalen Milroe is entering his fourth year at Alabama and is working with his third different offensive coordinator this spring with Nick Sheridan taking over the role.

Milroe and Sheridan have had 13 practices to get to know one another, and after Tuesday’s workout in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility, the former discussed their chemistry.

“With my time of playing football, this is a special moment for me because Coach Sheridan truly believes in me, and he speaks that every single day,” Milroe said. “No matter if I make 10,000 passing attempts are completed, whether I miss a ball, he’s saying how proud he is of me and he comes with positive reinforcement behind the coaching. 

“So this is a special moment for me because of who he is as a person.”

That’s a stark contrast from how Milroe viewed his first play-caller and quarterbacks coach, Bill O’Brien, who was on the receiving end of a rare negative comment from Milroe prior to the Rose Bowl semifinal. Neither Sheridan nor previous coordinator Tommy Rees has suggested Milroe change positions, not after seeing him finish sixth in the Heisman voting. 

Speaking to reporters last week, Sheridan described his coaching style with quarterbacks.

“I try to be what they need,” Sheridan said. “I think that’s for all of us as coaches. I think each individual player, you’re genuine to who you are. You don’t think about how you’re going to respond, to react, but you try to be there to help them. And hopefully, above all else, you’re teaching them how to play the game the way that you want them to play. 

“We place a priority on teaching, and so hopefully they would say that they feel like they’re getting better and being taught and improving. And certainly, I see that in their play.”

Milroe is back after starting 13 games last season and leaving Alabama to an SEC title and a College Football Playoff berth. He threw for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 65.8 percent of his passes in 2023. The dual-threat quarterback also ran for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on 161 carries, leading all SEC signal-callers in rushing scores.

Still learning, Milroe is working with Sheridan and company to continue to improve.

“Learning and growing because just that trust factor we have between each other,” Milroe said. “So I love our relationship because it’s constantly growing, and I’m appreciating that. But with our offense, it’s been fun. It’s been fun for me because I’m able to learn. And that’s the biggest thing I want to do is continue to learn. The day I stop learning and growing is the day I need to stop playing football. So for me, I’m just trying to keep learning.

“But with that comes with Coach (Kalen) DeBoer, Coach Mitch (Dahlen), who works with the quarterbacks, Coach Sheridan, our receivers coach (JaMarcus Shephard), there’s a lot of people around me that’s allowed me to be the best quarterback I can be. With this offense, it’s been fun, and I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Milroe is one of three UA quarterbacks having to learn a new offense, with the exception being Washington transfer Austin Mack. Working within a new scheme was the first thing Milroe mentioned when asked how the offense has pushed his development this spring.

“I’ve gone from three years learning one offense to now, my senior year, learning this offense,” Milroe said. “So that’s gonna make me better because it’s gonna make me expand my horizons when it comes to the scheme and maneuver and stuff like that. But with the Xs and Os and stuff like that, the biggest thing you’ve gotta do is simplify the game of football, and Coach has been doing a really good job with that. 

“And the biggest thing we wanna do is keep climbing, keep climbing. Learning new things each and every week when we come to the facility, and so that’s the biggest we can do is be one percent better. And then the ultimate goal is to master everything. For all of us, we’re steadily trying to learn, steadily trying to climb, and right now, we can all tell that we need to be better.”

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