Is Jalen Milroe a top-5 QB in Kalen DeBoer’s offense?

Jalen Milroe is poised to have a strong 2024 college football season, but how does having a new coach impact his ranking?

Alabama football has undergone many changes in the 2024 offseason, and they aren’t done yet. With a new head coaching, a mostly new coaching staff and high roster turnover, there are many questions looming over the Crimson Tide heading into 2024. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, however, is the one constant that fans can look forward to seeing take the field next season.

Milroe fought hard for the starting quarterback job ahead of, and early in, the 2023 season. After winning the QB1 position, Milroe improved throughout the season. When it was all said and done, he secured the starting job and finished No. 6 in the final Heisman Trophy voting.

Coming back for the 2024 season, Milroe is poised to improve. A large factor in his improvement is expected to be new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Recently retired head coach Nick Saban was a defensive-minded coach and did not have his hands on the offense all too much. DeBoer joins the program with a breadth of offensive experience and his resumé speaks to that.

Most recently, at Washington, DeBoer coached up quarterback Michael Penix, who is now slated to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. While Milroe and Penix harbor different skillsets, there’s strong belief that Milroe will benefit from DeBoer’s coaching, just as Penix did.

Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire recently put together a list of the top-10 quarterbacks in college football heading into the 2024 season and ranked Milroe at No. 5

“Milroe is different than most of the quarterbacks on our list, he can beat you in a variety of ways,” writes Conn. “His athleticism was on full display in his first year as a starter. While throwing for almost 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, the Crimson Tide dual-threat also added 531 yards and 12 scores on the ground. One should expect his game to elevated in Kalen DeBoer’s offense.”

With some players hitting the portal, some going to the NFL and others no longer having any remaining eligibility, the Alabama offense will have a new look. This should not come as a surprise to many, as the roster turnover isn’t as big of a factor as the new mindset of the coaching staff.

The real question is how all of this will impact Milroe in 2024. As Conn predicts, playing under DeBoer will elevate his game.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Milroe, DeBoer and Alabama football as the 2024 offseason progresses.

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Alabama football set to have one of the most dominant O-Line’s in CFB next year

Alabama football projected to have one of the best lines in CFB in 2024 per PFF College

As everyone already knows, things in Tuscaloosa are going to look much different this fall with the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] no longer on the sideline. Despite all of the changes coming to the football program in 2024, one thing that will not change is winning.

Alabama’s new head coach [autotag]Kalen DeBoer[/autotag] is already one of the three or four best coaches in the sport as he has posted a 25-3 record over the past two years with a national championship appearance, a Sugar Bowl victory and a Pac-12 title with the Washington Huskies. Now, with the resources available to him in the SEC, it will be fun to see what he can do.

With Saban’s departure, there was of course going to be some roster turnover and coaching changes. However, things shook out as well as they probably could have as DeBoer was able to assemble an outstanding staff. It certainly helps that QB [autotag]Jalen Milroe[/autotag] is staying in town and has a solid offensive line in front of him. The pieces to the puzzle are there.

In fact, Alabama’s offensive line may be one of the best units in all of college football – specifically on the interior. [autotag]Tyler Booker[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaeden Roberts[/autotag] were both key contributors for the Tide as Guard’s in 2023, so it is massive to get them back. The addition of C [autotag]Parker Brailsford[/autotag] from Washington is the one that Alabama fans are excited about after some major snapping woes a season ago. A great offensive line and Heisman candidate quarterback alone tells me the Tide will be in the thick of the Playoff hunt in 2024.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

PHOTO GALLERY: Alabama’s start to spring practice

The Kalen DeBoer era is underway in Tuscaloosa. Check out the top photos from Alabama football’s start to spring practice.

A new era has begun in Tuscaloosa led by Nick Saban’s successor, Kalen DeBoer. Reality has set in that the legendary head coach has retired and the Crimson Tide is under new direction as spring football practices have begun.

Plenty of time sits in between today and the team’s first game of the 2024 season, but there is much to get done. DeBoer is still in the early stages of figuring out the roster and will have to revisit it after the spring transfer portal window opens and closes.

For now, returning players and newcomers are answering to DeBoer and the brand-new staff, which features only a handful of returning coaches.

Below are the top images so far from the first few spring practices that have taken place, which show the coaches in action and players training hard to maintain the Crimson Tide’s high expectations and national championship-winning standard.

LOOK: Kalen DeBoer has social media buzzing with first press conference of spring practices

New Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer has earned much attention with some of his answers at the first press conference of spring practices.

Alabama football has officially entered into a new era. Nick Saban is retired and new head coach Kalen DeBoer has his first Crimson Tide practice behind him. As spring practices officially got under way, players and coaches finally had an opportunity to get a feel for each other on the field.

This is an important time for both players and coaches, as such drastic changes require time to iron out all wrinkles in the depth chart and gameplay.

While fans and media members are used to seeing Saban behind the podium after practices, a smiling Kalen DeBoer was there to greet them and answer their questions today.

Here are some of the highlights and fan reactions from DeBoer’s first post-practice press conference as the Alabama football head coach.

Jackson Arnold outside the top 10 in ESPN’s 2024 spring quarterback rankings

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold just outside ESPN’s 10 ten QBs for the 2024 season ahead of spring ball.

Anytime you have turnover at quarterback, there are bound to be questions about how the offense will perform the following season.

The Sooners are one of the teams across the country that will be starting a new quarterback in 2024. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] takes over for [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], who transferred to Oregon. And while there may be some uncertainty, the Sooners have one of the best young quarterbacks in the country.

The former five-star prospect isn’t one of the favorites to win the Heisman in 2024 and at this point. At this point he’s just outside the top-10 of ESPN’s quarterback rankings heading into the spring. And a lot of where Arnold is ranked is likely related to his inexperience at the collegiate level.

The only player without much experience that’s ranked ahead of Arnold is Tennessee Volunteers quarterback [autotag]Nico Iamaleavea[/autotag].

Arnold has a lot of talent and is a highly-regarded quarterback, but he and Iamaleava have a lot to prove still. But they’ve got all the talent in the world, and both former five-star quarterbacks were able to get their first start during bowl season.

Arnold and Iamaleava will likely provide the fireworks in the Oklahoma Sooners first conference game in the SEC when they welcome the Tennessee Volunteers to town. That could be the start of a fantastic quarterback battle over the next several years. In the offenses they run with the talent that both schools possess, both former five-star quarterbacks could be dark-horse Heisman contenders in 2024 and frontrunners in 2025.

For the Sooners, everything is set up for Arnold to find himself ranked much higher in these quarterback rankings by the end of the season. The offensive line will come together and the Sooners have a deep pool of skill talent for Arnold to work with.

Here’s a look at ESPN’s top 10.

Is Alabama’s Jalen Milroe a top-10 QB in 2024?

Jalen Milroe returns to Alabama for the 2024 college football season. Is he a top-10 QB in the nation?

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is set to return as the Tide’s starter for the 2024 season. While he became a reliable passer for the team as the season went on, there are many that question whether he will be able to improve enough over the offseason to keep the program in playoff contention.

ESPN recently ranked the top-10 quarterbacks heading into the 2024 college football season and Milroe did more than just make the cut. His ranking matches his jersey number: four.

Ahead of Milroe is Georgia‘s Carson Beck, Oregon‘s Dillon Gabriel and Texas‘s Quinn Ewers.

Last season, Milroe threw for 2,834 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, six interceptions. he also has 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN explained Milroe’s ranking,

“When Alabama benched Milroe following a Week 2 loss to Texas in 2023, few expected him to project as a top-five quarterback for the following season. But he responded well to the setback, developing his downfield passing skills and other areas, and helping the Tide to an SEC championship and a CFP appearance.”

What Milroe has in store for the 2024 season must extend beyond the field of play. With head coach Nick Saban retired, Milroe must serve as a veteran leader for the team. Players will look to him for guidance as the Crimson Tide seeks to retain elite status in the early stages of a new era in Tuscaloosa.

“His next challenge will be adjusting to a new coaching staff, led by Kalen DeBoer and coordinator Nick Sheridan,” writes Rittenberg. “DeBoer transformed Michael Penix Jr. into a record-setting passer and undoubtedly will feature Milroe’s deep-ball talent. Like Penix did at Washington, Milroe will need much better protection after taking 44 sacks in 2023, including six against Michigan in the CFP semifinal. But if he can maintain or elevate his efficiency, he will be in the mix for the Heisman Trophy and other national awards this fall.”

For now, it’s all about Milroe adjusting to the new coaching staff, new playbook and getting the roster to buy in to what coach Kalen DeBoer is selling.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Jalen Milroe and other Alabama players as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

SEC quarterback rankings ahead of 2024 spring football

Where does Jackson Arnold rank among SEC quarterbacks heading into spring ball?

As the SEC expands to 16 teams in 2024, the conference is stacked at the quarterback position. From former five-star prospects to 2024 Heisman contenders to intriguing transfer additions, there will be some fantastic quarterback play on display this fall in the SEC.

Seven of the last nine Heisman winners have come from Oklahoma and the SEC. Two of those seven were non-quarterbacks, DeVonta Smith and Derrick Henry.

Much of what will determine which teams emerge as SEC title and College Football Playoff contenders will be on the shoulders of the quarterbacks who will lead their team in 2024.

There are some quarterback competitions that need to take place, but here’s our pre-spring ball SEC quarterback rankings.

 

Jalen Milroe among this week’s Alabama football Student-Athletes of the Week

Jalen Milroe headlines this week’s Student-Athletes of the Week!

The Alabama football team kicked off the fourth quarter program this week and is now just a handful of days away from the start of spring practice.

As the players begin to prepare for spring football, their classroom duties remain the same and the football program has officially announced this week’s Student-Athletes of the Week.

Headlining this week’s recipients is Crimson Tide redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Milroe. Joining Milroe is a pair of second-year players. Offensive lineman Olaus Alinen and linebacker Qua Russaw.

Milroe is the current clubhouse leader to be the Tide’s signal caller in 2024 while Alinen and Russaw will most likely be providing solid depth for Alabama in Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Alabama’s head coach.

Congratulations to these three young men for their accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom!

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FanDuel reveals top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates for 2024

Who will take home the highly-coveted Heisman Trophy in 2024? Check out these way-too-early rankings.

After a decade of the four-team College Football Playoff format, the 2024 season will introduce the 12-team playoff. Even across all major conferences, there will be a lot of change realignment taking effect.

The CFP committee recently revised their qualifying criteria for the playoffs to include the five highest-ranked conference champions plus the next seven highest-ranked teams determined by the CFP Selection Committee’s rankings. Due to all of the changes and Nick Saban’s retirement, there will be more parity in the sport than ever before which should make the 2024 season one of the craziest we have ever seen.

So, not only will the national title race be a mad dash, but it is also going to be one of the most wide-open Heisman Trophy races ever. Despite the change in coaching staff in Tuscaloosa, the 2024 Heisman Trophy odds have Alabama quarterback [autotag]Jalen Milroe[/autotag] as one of the favorites to take home the prestigious award.

PFF ranks Texas’ Quinn Ewers the No. 5 returning QB in 2024

This ranking seems a bit low for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is expected to be one of the top players in the nation for the upcoming season. Continue reading “PFF ranks Texas’ Quinn Ewers the No. 5 returning QB in 2024”