Bama Central

Jalen Milroe Doesn't Want to Be Known as Running Quarterback

The Alabama quarterback says he'll take what the defense give him, but that his intent is always to throw the ball.

Katie Windham

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nick Saban's Monday press conference was flooded with questions about LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. It's understandable as Daniels and the No. 1-rated LSU scoring offense will present the biggest challenge yet for the Alabama defense. 

Daniels has been lighting up the stat sheet with some of the best quarterback numbers in college football. He has 2573 passing yards and 25 touchdowns to just three interceptions, plus another 521 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. 

But LSU won't be the only team with a dual-threat quarterback in this top-15 showdown, but Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe doesn't want to be known exclusively as a running quarterback.  

"It’s funny, everyone always mentions my running ability and everything like that, but in the offseason all I do is throw," Milroe said. "I do zero training when it comes to running. My intent when I’m on the field is to throw the ball because the ball can get there faster than my legs can on any drive. When it comes to running, if it happens, it happens. I try to just be a point guard with the football.”

This season, Milroe has shown his ability with his legs at times. Like the Crimson Tide's first touchdown of the season when he made something out of nothing, turning a bad snap into a 21-yard touchdown run. Or this 53-yard touchdown run against Mississippi State. 

At times though, Milroe has displayed a hesitancy to run, which has played a role in Alabama's SEC-worst sack total (36.) He has 142 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. 

But the Crimson Tide's redshirt quarterback has also shown his skillset with his arm, especially on the deep ball. Milroe is completing 60 percent (21 of 35) of his deep ball attempts this season according to Pro Football Focus. Two of his favorite targets have been Jermaine Burton and Isaiah Bond– like this touchdown pass to Bond against Texas A&M.

He has thrown for at least 220 yards in five of his seven starts and now has with 1617 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air.

“My biggest thing is I want to do everything that calls for the game plan, really maximize and mastering what Coach Rees calls," Milroe said. "And whether it’s passing the ball, whether it’s handing the ball off, whether it’s running, I try to maximize all the opportunities I have on the football field."

Milroe said his relationship with Rees is constantly and improving, and Bond Bond said his chemistry has improved with Milroe as the season has gone along. 

"Obviously, coming from a quarterback last year like Bryce Young, who was the No. 1 pick in the draft to Jalen Milroe, obviously he’s shown great improvement," Bond said. "Just getting better every season. I believe in Jalen Milroe, and I believe in where this team can go in a couple weeks."

All its goals are ahead of No. 8 Alabama (7-1, 5-0 SEC) over these next four week, and it starts with No. 13 LSU (6-2, 4-1 SEC) this Saturday. 

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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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