Bama Central

What No Opt-Outs Says About Alabama Football's Culture: Just a Minute

Alabama's top NFL draft prospects like Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker and Jihaad Campbell plan to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan.

Katie Windham

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) pumps up the crowd before Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Alabama Crimson Tide leads Auburn Tigers 14-6 at halftime.
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) pumps up the crowd before Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Alabama Crimson Tide leads Auburn Tigers 14-6 at halftime. / Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Welcome to BamaCentral’s "Just a Minute," a video series featuring BamaCentral's Alabama beat writers. Multiple times a week, the writers will group up or film solo to provide their take on a topic concerning the Crimson Tide or the landscape of college sports.

Watch the above video as BamaCentral's Joe Gaither and Katie Windham discuss what it says about the culture around Alabama football that the Crimson Tide's top NFL draft prospects are choosing to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl after missing out on the College Football Playoff.

After Alabama lost to Oklahoma, Crimson Tide left guard and captain Tyler Booker said he would play whatever games the team had left on the schedule. After Thursday's bowl practice, quarterback Jalen Milroe and linebacker Jihaad Campbell both expressed their intent to play in the Crimson Tide's bowl game against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

To clarify, not every player has made an official announcement, but outside of those players that have entered the tranfer portal, there are not expected to be any Alabama players that choose to sit out of the bowl game.

Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. set a precedent for the Alabama football program in 2022, choosing to play in the Sugar Bowl when the two would go on to be No. 1 and No. 3 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Even though this season didn't go the way the players wanted, they have made a commitment to finish the year strong in the first season under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Read more: Jihaad Campbell on Alabama Missing CFP: 'It's on Us'

Center Parker Brailsford Returning to Alabama for 2025 Season

Why Jalen Milroe is Playing in ReliaQuest Bowl Against Michigan

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Katie Windham
KATIE WINDHAM

Katie Windham is the assistant editor for BamaCentral, primarily covering football, basketball gymnastics and softball. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Alabama and has covered a variety of Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for outlets like The Tuscaloosa News, The Crimson White and the Associated Press before joining BamaCentral full time in 2021. Windham has covered College Football Playoff games, the Women's College World Series, NCAA March Madness, SEC Tournaments and championships in multiple sports. 

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