Alabama football’s early-season issues extend deeper than its quarterback play. Yet, following the Tide’s stumble against Texas, its earliest loss in a season in nearly two decades, social media feedback centered around Jalen Milroe and why he wasn’t benched.

Offensive lineman JC Latham noticed the discourse and disagreed. Latham felt like he was the one to let the team down, leading an offensive line that allowed Milroe to be sacked five times. In fact, Milroe was supportive till the end of the 34-24 loss, telling players on the sideline to keep their heads up. So, Latham rallied around his quarterback.

“This my family and I’m riding behind them always. Roll Tide 4L. Faith behind 4,” Latham tweeted.

Two weeks later, after Milroe was benched and his backups didn’t fare much better against lowly South Florida, Alabama (2-1) has turned back to its No. 4 as QB1. Nick Saban announced Milroe had “earned” the title after demonstrating leadership from the sidelines against the Bulls.

It was another example of Milroe’s high character, something players have said has been apparent throughout No. 13 Alabama’s quarterback competition. Wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks noticed in the spring that Milroe was trying to focus more on becoming a leader. Center Seth McLaughlin said after Week 1 that Milroe is one of the first players in the facility every morning, his car parked next to Saban’s.

“That’s what you love about Jalen, you know?” offensive lineman Tyler Booker said. “Through the mistakes that he made, he never put his head down. He was always there for us. He always had a smile on his face. Even down to the last drive, he was like, ‘I love where we are. He still had that hope. He still had that drive. He still had that fight. That’s what I’m most proud of about our offense. Although we didn’t execute, we fought.”

Milroe didn’t necessarily secure his position with his play on the field. His 14 career touchdowns demonstrated as running back Roydell Wiliams called it, his “dual-threat” acumen. Williams was also quick to answer when asked who was faster, he or his quarterback (it’s Milroe).

“Leads by example,” Williams said of Milroe. “He also talks in the locker room, encouraging everybody. Being able to talk to those guys is key, cause we have a lot of young guys on the team now. Just being that voice in the locker room is very important.”

Wideout Jermaine Burton said Milroe “be launching” the ball in the team’s indoor facility. Instead, Milroe’s leadership last weekend in Tampa helped lead to his promotion.

“Jalen is a better teammate and an even better man,” cornerback Terrion Arnold added after USF. “So I would say for him, with all the people kind of criticizing him, trying to say what they want about him, trying to portray him to have this certain image, he’s nothing really but a great guy, great teammate. … Most people don’t realize how humble he is.”

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].