Kalen DeBoer’s Mentorship Promises Brighter Future for Jalen Milroe Than Nick Saban’s Era in Alabama

Expectations reign supreme from Jalen Milroe, who entered this year as Alabama Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback. As he is all set to spread his charm this fall, coming off a College Football Playoff run last season, On3Sports analyst J.D. PicKell has arrived with some bizarre analysis. 

While Milroe’s attaining a position in the Top 5 seems to be accurate, what stood out was his comparison of Alabama HC DeBoer and Milroe with that of milkshakes and French fries. Does this mean the DeBoer era will suit Milroe better than the Nick Saban era? 

PicKell’s bizarre analysis of the DeBoer-Milroe combo

Now that the transfer portal has closed, the time has arrived to shift the focus on college football players’ performance in 2024. The January 1 matchup between the Michigan Wolverines and Alabama Crimson Tide left Saban disappointed with Milroe’s performance when he missed a pivotal pass. However, according to PicKell, situations are going to change this season now that DeBoer is leading Tuscaloosa.

Yes, like you all, PicKell was initially under speculation about the DeBoer-Milroe combo. “Jalen Milroe- Kalen DeBoer to me is a lot like French fries in a milkshake combo… sounds like it doesn’t sound good- two things that taste different… you think that they are not supposed to go together but when you try you find out they are phenomenal,” asserted PicKell.

He further exposes the probable blueprint the Alabama HC will follow: “Kalen DeBoer is going to do a lot for Jalen Milroe-pre-snaps with shifts, motions and play designs to give him answers.” It’s not just PicKell; DeBoer also promises to focus on Milroe’s development. 

Milroe gets a confidence pass from DeBoer

The 2024 season will be extra special for DeBoer as it’s his debut year at Tuscaloosa. However, he seems to be reigning high in confidence. One of the many reasons is that he can bank upon the established starting quarterback, Milroe, returning after garnering Heisman votes last season.

On May 8, DeBoer seemed to be very confident about Milroe in an interview. When asked how convincing the player’s development has been, he stated, “He really came a long way in processing, playing the game, moving the chains.” With this, the Alabama HC gave a stamp of approval that Milroe is his man for 2024. DeBoer also seems to be confident about the quarterback’s talents, “And so just when he hits fall camp, I think just having 100 percent confidence in every concept we put in.” Last season, Milroe finished 2,718 yards passing and 23 touchdowns. This dual-threat ability bodes well for DeBoer’s fast-paced offense. 

Hence, there are chances that Milroe might be able to change his last season’s narrative when Alabama opens the 2024 season on August 31 against Western Kentucky. Besides receiving DeBoer’s confidence motion, the quarterback was included in promotional artwork for the EA Sports College Football 2025 video game, published on the PlayStation Store website on May 10. Good times seem to roll for Milroe!