As the regular season of college football comes to a close and the focus shifts towards the National Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame, it’s time to spotlight some of the game’s most talented athletes. This segment will focus on Alabama’s quarterback Jalen Milroe, who had quite a disappointing 2024 campaign.

Prior to 2024, Milroe led his team to an 11-2 record, and threw 23 touchdowns to only 6 interceptions. Regardless of Milroe’s inconsistency, if he would have produced and improved upon his 2023 season, he would be a for sure first-round draft selection in 2025. Milroe’s draft placement took a nose dive after he had a season to forget under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Alabama finished with a 9-4 record, failing to make the playoffs, and losing in the ReliaQuest Bowl to the Michigan Wolverines 19-13.

Milroe’s season included many questionable discussion-making blunders, accuracy issues, and too many turnovers compared to the season prior. Although the young signal-caller has the ability to run the ball at a high level, his passing accuracy is what ultimately hurt him. Here is an overview of his college statistics, the passing regression is clearly evident but it is positive to see his rushing numbers improve.

Collegiate Statistics: 

2021: 3/7 for 41 Yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs | 15 Carries for 57 Rushing Yards, 0 TDs

2022: 31/53 for 297 Yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs | 31 Carries for 263 Rushing Yards, 1 TD

2023: 187/284 for 2,834 Yards, 23 TDs, 6 INTs, 161 Carries for 531 Rushing Yards, 12 TDs

2024: 205/319 for 2,844 Yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs, 168 Carries for 726 Rushing Yards, 20 TDs

Four days after the team’s devasting loss to Michigan, Milroe declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. He praised former head coach Nick Saban and current coach Kalen DeBoer for challenging and believing in him.

To my teammates, my brothers, thank you for the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve shared, The bonds we’ve built will last a lifetime. To Coach Saban, thank you for believing in me and instilling the standard of excellence in me. To Coach DeBoer, thank you for challenging me and helping me grow into the player and leader I am today. 

Turnovers have been the storyline for Milroe in his final season at Alabama. If the young prospect wants to start in the NFL and prove his worth, he needs to keep ahold of the football and work on his throwing abilities. These are two key aspects of his game that must improve if he wants to produce at the highest level. If they do not improve and he continues to be reckless with the football, he will most likely end up being a career backup and not a franchise leader of an NFL organization.