Tag: Jalen Milroe

Kalen DeBoer says Alabama quarterbacks are ‘all in’

Does Alabama football have the best quarterback room in the country?

What a difference a year makes. This time last year Alabama Crimson Tide football fans were worried to death about the quarterback room in Tuscaloosa and now it appears to be one of the strengths of the team. In fact, you could argue that Alabama has the best QB room in the country.

Jalen Milroe is back for the Tide after starting 13 games in 2023 and finishing in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy voting. Ty Simpson is a former five-star recruit who has blossomed into an SEC-ready player. Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack both have shown that their futures are bright in college football as well.

To say that head coach Kalen DeBoer is thrilled with the quarterbacks who be an understatement. Coach DeBoer and the entire Alabama offensive coaching staff consistently raved about the progress that all of the QBs had made this spring and despite the transfer portal window currently being open, it appears all four are staying put in Tuscaloosa.

On Thursday, Coach DeBoer was asked about his quarterbacks while on “The Next Round”.

“I know that you always go right to who the starter is, but there’s some great talent,” DeBoer said. “I can’t express the appreciation they have for just believing in our process and believing in what we’re doing. You see from the beginning of the spring, every single one of those guys improved, becoming more comfortable in the offense. Improving doesn’t mean they’re perfect. There’s a throw here throw there, a read, you can see it in the spring game, I’ve seen it in the scrimmages, but man, they’re all in.

“They’re diving into the playbook and they believe in the development that they’re going to get in this program. Nick Sheridan has done an amazing job, I think, really trying to continue to foster the competition amongst the group, but also those guys, it’s really neat to see their relationship and their trust in each other, their belief in each other. And those friendships continue to grow. So he’s done an amazing job, not just with the offense but with the quarterback room.”

DeBoer is known for his quarterback-friendly approach to the game and his history of developing NFL-caliber quarterbacks certainly helps Alabama in its efforts to keep the stacked room unbroken.

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Who was the breakout player from Alabama football’s A-Day spring game?

See which player stood above the rest during Alabama football’s A-Day spring game.

During Saturday’s spring game, the Alabama offense defeated the Alabama defense by a final score of 34-28. One player stood out above the rest.

The Alabama Crimson Tide were led offensively by junior running back Jam Miller. The native of Tyler, Texas finished the game with eight carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns.

Miller has served as a backup the past two seasons. Now, it appears that he will have the opportunity to be Alabama’s feature back next season alongside sophomore Justice Haynes. The two seem to be the lead backs heading into the offseason.

The playmaking ability is what stands out the most with Miller. He can impact the game as a ball carrier as well as a pass catcher for the Crimson Tide. He will be vital to Alabama’s success at the running back position next season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program as it enters the offseason.

Alabama QB Ty Simpson will reportedly not enter transfer portal

Alabama QB Ty Simpson is not expected to enter the now-open spring transfer portal. He will stick with Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide.

The 2024 spring transfer portal window is now open for the next two weeks, which means players from programs all across the country can leave their current team in hopes of finding another. The portal gives, and the portal takes. Alabama Crimson Tide football fans are both excited and nervous about how the spring portal window could impact the 2024 roster.

Kalen DeBoer heading into his first season as the Crimson Tide head coach looks to pick up where legendary coach Nick Saban left off. However, it’s a difficult task to do in the ever-changing landscape that is college football in 2024.

One player that Alabama seems to have secured is quarterback Ty Simpson, according to Ryan Fowler of Tide 100.9’s The Game. The redshirt sophomore out of Martin, Tennessee was QB2 behind Jalen Milroe in 2023 and is expected to serve in the same role for the upcoming season.

With DeBoer at the helm of the program and a new-look coaching staff, no job is guaranteed on this team. A healthy quarterback competition is usually beneficial for the program. Simpson sees value in staying in Tuscaloosa.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football and the transfer portal as updates become available.

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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.

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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.