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Jalen Milroe talks decision to turn pro, comparison to Lamar Jackson at Senior Bowl

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby:Charlie Potter•about 9 hours•

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Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (Vasha Hunt / Imagn Images)

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will play in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl later today.

One of four Crimson Tide players, and four quarterbacks, on the American team, Milroe has had an up-and-down week in Mobile, Alabama. The redshirt junior is considered a top-five player at his position three months before the 2025 NFL Draft, and Milroe will look to close out his time in Mobile with a strong showing this afternoon (1:30 p.m. on NFL Network).

Earlier this week, Milroe spoke to reporters and covered a wide variety of topics. Below is a full transcript of the Alabama quarterback’s 15-minute press conference, via AL.com.

Milroe on his decision to enter the 2025 NFL Draft…

“Ultimately, it all came down to putting my best foot forward. Being in college, you have so much experience and exposure in being at the University of Alabama. The best thing about it is experience, No. 1, with the coaching staff. No. 1, my freshman year, coming in, being around a great coach in Coach O’Brien, transitioning to Coach Rees, then to Nick Sheridan.

“And then also, I got reps also by being a backup, as well. So that time of being in college, from being my freshman year, when I was 18, into now, where I’m at right now, has been so much exposure, so much experience, so much I’ve been able to learn and grow. So I thought it was the best decision to go ahead and declare.”

Milroe on his time with Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees…

“Coach Rees gave me an opportunity to expand my knowledge with the game of football. I was a first-year starter last season of 2023 and he was the first OC of that season that I had as being a first-year starter. And for me, the amount of knowledge that I learned from him, No. 1, with him playing the position, No. 2, with him coaching, I’ve gained so much knowledge, respect.

“And the best thing about it that we worked together through that process. And it was so fun, just from the start of the season to the end of the season, the growth and everything that comes about it, that was all work in the dark that we were able to achieve, able to see as a group when we were working together.

“I have so much respect to Coach Rees, so much respect to him as a person, as well, just being able to build a relationship with him in my time in college. Although it was a short period of time, I learned so much. So I appreciate him because as a first-year starter, being able to learn each and every game week under him, it was amazing. So I definitely appreciate the grind and all that was put in that season.”

Milroe on what element of his play differentiates him from other quarterbacks in the draft…

“I think the biggest thing that I always do is appreciate each and every quarterback because we all are unique in their own ways. And I know how hard it is to play the position, and so to be able to consider yourself a quarterback, be able to lead your team, you can’t take that for granted at all. But all I want to do put the best foot forward. Not be one-dimensional at all when it comes to my playing style, lead properly. 

“I was able to be a two-time captain for Alabama, and I’m truly appreciative of that because every time I reflected, it was always trying to put the best foot forward for the state of Alabama, for the guys in the locker room and for the coaching staff and the guys in the locker room. That’s the biggest thing when it came to being a two-time captain, and all throughout that process, I learned as a leader, what it takes to lead a football team. 

“And so experience is the best teacher with my time just playing in the SEC, learning each and every week, playing against great defenses, being able to go against arguably the best defenses in the country each and every week. Also the exposure of the guys on the field at Alabama. So I think for all of us, you consider yourself something, but it’s all about the workload that is put in the dark that’s going to come out to shine. 

“So I just try to trust in the process, buy into who I am as a person and keep building each and every day because each and every day that I have the opportunity to play the game of football, I’m going to try to appreciate it. I’m going to try to keep on putting my best foot forward. And I know there’s so much work to be done in the future, but one thing I’m going to do is to be thankful for the position that I am today. Be thankful to play the quarterback position because as you go from each day to each day, the percentage of quarterbacks goes down. So every opportunity I get to play football, I’m gonna be the best version of myself.”

Milroe on how he plans to let naysayers know he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the class…

“I think that’s not for me to say. I think for me, it’s all about how can I get better from now and each and every day that I have the opportunity to play football. And so during this process, what’s important is how can you be better than you were yesterday? The work that you put in today is not for today, it’s for tomorrow. The work you put in yesterday was for today. So each and every day that I have the opportunity to get better, now it’s time to do so. 

“And so the best thing that I can do is reflect on the 2024 year. What were my weaknesses? Turn them into a strength. What were my strengths? Turn it even stronger. And narrow that focus as a whole rather than looking at external factors and what didn’t take place or who’s not behind me. Look at the things that I can improve on. Look at some things that makes me unique, what makes me consider my strengths. And that’s the that’s the best thing as someone that continues to look to get better, continues to have people to also push you in the right direction, as well. 

“And I have great coaches, great teammates, great parents, also a great supporting cast around me, so I know that I will never get complacent, just knowing that who I am today is gonna be different than I was a year from now as I continue to go in this process. So as cliche as it is, it’s all about going 1-0. It’s all about getting one percent better. And if you do that, you’re going to silence all the naysayers.”

Milroe on if he spoke with anyone about the Senior Bowl; his relationship with Jalen Hurts…

“To answer your first question, it’s been a lot of great players that have been a part of this game, and as someone that had aspirations to go play at the collegiate level then transfer on going into the NFL process, there’s so many great examples of (what) right looks like. There’s been so many example of guys that attacked the week, got better each and every day, that have proved themselves to be winners, be competitors, have a mindset of approaching it with going 1-0. 

“There’s been so many examples. And so having those examples, those have been teaching lessons for me as a player that’s inspired to go on and approach the next level. And so I try to learn. I try to pick up on things that allow someone to be successful, allow them to be in position to be a part of this game because a lot of great people along the time I’ve been here, just seeing the talent and being around here, and also the coaching staff, as well. It’s been so much information I’ve learned as a whole. That’s the biggest thing going in this week is trying to have that mindset just always learning , and also just look at the lesson that was put in front of me.

“When it goes to Jalen Hurts, his journey, who is the person is always inspiring. I always love watching him play. If the Eagles are playing, I’m tuned in every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whenever they’re playing. I appreciate him, the relationship we have, and it’s going to constantly grow. But as he’s moving forward into the Super Bowl, I want to wish him the best. I want him to ball out. I’m behind him always.”

Milroe on what part of his game has come the farthest; what’s next for rounding it out…

“Knowledge. Knowledge is No. 1. I started college at 18 years old, and I can definitely say the knowledge base that I’ve had since the beginning of college to where I am right now, it’s constantly progressing. To this day, I’m always trying to be a sponge for all information and grow as much as possible. One example that I’ve had since I’ve been in college, one of our coaches from this previous staff, he pulled the whole offensive group together, and he asked somebody in the group, he was like, ‘Hey, how many reps did you have today?’ And so he was thinking, he was scratching his head trying to think, process like how many reps he had. He said, ‘I’m gonna stop you right there. You had all of them. A mental rep and a physical rep.’ 

“And so although I only started two years, I had four years of having mental reps as well as practice reps when it comes to physical reps. But those are the reps that are in the dark that I’ve learned and grown and have opportunities to look around. So like with Bryce Young being a Heisman winner, also following with the next year, with him being a two-time starter, a captain, as well. So seeing the examples that was presented in front of me, only was encouraging, only gave me the opportunities to grow mentally. 

“When it comes to the physical attributes, that’s what the offseason is for. The offseason, there’s no shot clock. That’s what’s unique about the offseason – no shot clocks. So you can work on so many unique things that you can build your craft on and gear your mindset towards, alright. Whatever your weaknesses is, turn it into a strength. Whatever your strengths are, make it even stronger. So whatever my weaknesses was in this 2024 season, it should be different in 2025. And so if you have that mindset and approach it that way, you’re gonna keep on going, keep on growing. I know that I have so much room to grow as a player, but as you narrow that focus, you can only get better. You can only achieve so much more.”

Milroe on why he stayed at Alabama rather than transfer; if that benefits him in the NFL…

“For me, I try to separate my life into qualities that try to present outside when it comes to commitment, discipline, detail, being detail-oriented. And when I speak about commitment, that’s how you refocus when it comes to hardship, when it comes to things not going your way, in a sense, when it comes to opportunity, as well, when it comes to positive opportunities that goes along the process. I can’t make decisions for other people. I can’t speak for other people. I can only speak for myself. But I always try to translate to my short-term goals, long-term goals as I was in college, and as I narrowed my focus to doing that, I was able to achieve that. 

“And one thing that allowed me to stay grounded was reflecting on how I can lead properly. How can I refocus the group to all being geared to having shared success, on having common goals when we’re trying to refocus and just trust in the process, as well. Because at a time where there’s a lot of external factors pulling guys separate ways, it’s all about the person that can lead and being in front of that to try to just draw attention toward what our goals are as a group and what do we want to accomplish. And I think if you stay strong in those ways, it’s not going to deter you from external factors. 

“So I think that ultimately that got me to stay Alabama. I feel like Alabama is home. I feel as though that’s where I needed to be at, and it was a reason why I signed my letter of intent at the University of Alabama. I never lost focus toward towards that, and I always having that refocus, also having a supporting system that allow you to listen to other ideas, as well. So that’s what ultimately got me to stay.”

Milroe on his thoughts on Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders being the top two quarterbacks…

“No. 1, I wish them the best, and I want them to achieve all that they can playing the position. Because I know the hardship that comes with being a quarterback in this society, the hardship that comes with it. So No. 1 is their support, and I hope they have a long career. They had a great college career, so now for them to have the opportunity to play at the next level is a great opportunity. 

“So the selection doesn’t really matter. It’s all about the opportunity, the situation where the best fits you. So I hope they go to the best situation that fit them, and for them to have a long career with whatever team is lucky and blessed to be a part of their journey. And so I’m pulling for them. I’m only worried about myself, how I could be better, looking for the best fit for myself. But for my thing to those two guys, and I’m pulling for them. I hope them the best, and I wish them continued blessings, a healthy career that allow them to achieve all they need to achieve.”

Milroe on how he feels about being compared to Lamar Jackson…

“Well, that’s nice of him. Lamar Jackson is very dominant. It’s been evident to how he’s played this season. For someone that’s inspired to go to NFL, just seeing as he takes his game to the next level each and every year, him being at the top of the league and him definitely being a top five quarterback in the NFL, that’s inspiring for sure, as a young quarterback that’s inspired to go to the NFL. So that definitely puts a smile to my face, and I definitely love watching Lamar. Secretly, I’m actually Ravens fan. I grew up a Ravnes fan. So I pull for the Ravens.”

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