Tide’s Milroe, informed not to play QB, gets ‘ultimate victory’

Paolo Uggetti, ESPNDec 28, 2023, 03:49 PM ET LOS ANGELES– Just days away from leading Alabama into the College Football Playoff semifinal versus Michigan, starting quarterback Jalen Milroe said Thursday that previous Tide offensive coordinator Expense O’Brien when told him he shouldn’t play quarterback.

“How would you feel if I informed you [that] you suck?” Milroe stated of what it resembled to receive that remark from his previous planner. “He told me a bunch of positions I could have changed to, but look where I’m at right now. Who gets the ultimate victory?”

O’Brien, who was the team’s offending planner in the previous 2 seasons, was changed by Tommy Rees this past offseason after O’Brien delegated end up being offending planner with the NFL’s New England Patriots.

After early battles this season, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has actually grown as both a passer and a runner under offensive organizer Tommy Rees, tossing for 2,718 backyards and 23 touchdowns while running for 468 and 12 more ratings. Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire

Under Rees, once a college quarterback himself, Milroe has actually turned into one of the best quarterbacks in college football. After struggling at the start of the season and losing the beginning job versus South Florida, Milroe bounced back.As he led the Tide to 10 straight wins, an SEC title and a CFP berth, he also discovered a groove as both a runner and a passer, tossing for 2,718 backyards and 23 touchdowns while running for 468 backyards and 12 more ratings.

“When you take a look at me, you do not think I play quarterback,” Milroe said. “You think I play [defensive back], linebacker, tight end. You don’t believe I play quarterback.”

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When it concerns throwing the ball, Milroe takes pride in bucking traditional knowledge about himself and demonstrating how efficient of a thrower, not simply a runner, he can be. As his self-confidence has grown, Milroe has just been verified in his belief that he can play the position at a high level, even if people such as O’Brien have actually questioned his capability to do so.

“Growing up, I went to camp, they looked at me as a receiver or they saw me as not playing the quarterback position,” Milroe stated. “I beat all odds by playing quarterback, which is something that I try to do as much as possible.”

Milroe acknowledged the individuality of his journey to this position, however he stated he never wavered on his belief and desire that he needed to be an SEC quarterback after devoting to Alabama. Now, with Rees, Milroe has actually discovered a kindred spirit in a fellow quarterback who went through his own share of ups and downs.

“This is the very first time I had an OC that played the position,” Milroe said. “I believe I’m really receptive of his training due to the fact that he played the position, dipped into a high level at Notre Dame. And then now that he’s training, he has the ability to coach the position and I have the ability to absorb it as much as possible. So it’s been great.”

Said Rees of Milroe: “He’s an astounding kid. The method he has the ability to deal with difficulty, the way he’s able to press through things.”

The rest of the Tide’s offense has actually also rallied around Milroe this season, promoting his development as a leader as well.

“Truthfully, from the first game to all the way to now, he’s appeared like 2 various players, but it’s the exact same individual,” wide receiver Isaiah Bond said. “Confidence is a big function on the football field. If you don’t have no trust, no self-confidence, you’re not going to even play to your full capacity. So believe in yourself is the primary key part, and he’s done that.”