Where did Alabama Crimson Tide star quarterback Jalen Milroe play high school football? And how did he find his way to Nick Saban and Kalen DeBoer?
Here, we take a closer look at Milroe’s path to becoming a starting quarterback at the college football level.
Where Did Alabama QB Jalen Milroe Play in High School?
Milroe played high school football at Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas. There, he first affirmed his status as one of the most talented up-and-coming signal callers on the recruiting circuit.
Milroe first accrued starting reps as a sophomore and was Tompkins’ full-time starter by his junior year. That season, Milroe passed for 2,689 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding eight touchdowns on the ground.
As a senior, Milroe accumulated an additional 1,136 yards and 13 TDs through the air, totaling over 4,000 total yards and over 50 total scores across his career while also eclipsing the 30-win mark for his career.
On account of his production, talent, and NFL-ready frame, Milroe was given a consensus four-star recruit designation. And for many outlets, he was a fringe top-100 talent at the national level.
It comes as no surprise that Milroe fielded scholarship offers from dozens of CFB programs, including a host of blue-bloods with proven track records of NFL development.
How Did Milroe End Up at Alabama?
Milroe originally committed to the Texas Longhorns as a four-star recruit, and he did so in the summer of 2019. But in Aug. 2020, Milroe de-committed from Texas and flipped his allegiance to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In 2021 and 2022, Milroe served as the primary backup to eventual first-overall pick Bryce Young. He preserved his redshirt in 2021 and was utilized more often as a designed running threat in 2022. He also went 1-0 as a starter, playing in relief of Young against Texas A&M.
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When Young left to make the leap to the NFL, Milroe took part in a three-man competition for the Crimson Tide’s starting QB job heading into 2023. He at first won the battle against Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson but was benched for Buchner after a loss to Texas.
When Buchner failed to produce against South Florida, however, Milroe was reinstated as Alabama’s starting QB, and he went on to become an invaluable leader and offensive presence for his team in 2023.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Milroe completed 65.8% of his passes for 2,834 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only six interceptions while registering 531 yards and 12 scores on the ground.
Head coach Nick Saban retired after the 2023 season, but Milroe remained at Alabama despite the change in leadership.
This was a big week for Jalen Milroe: His first test against a secondary with potential NFL talent (Ricardo Hallman, Hunter Wohler).
So far, he’s been spectacular. 9-12, 130 yards. 50 rush yards, 3 Total TDs. And this immaculate bucket throw.
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) September 14, 2024
Now, he’s on track to put up career-best passing numbers with former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer at the helm, and freshman wideout Ryan Williams catalyzing the offense.
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