Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will return to Tide for 2024 season
If there was any question whether Alabama football’s Jalen Milroe would be back in Tuscaloosa for 2024, he put an end to that on Thursday. The quarterback announced his plans to return during an appearance on The Next Round internet show.
“Yeah, I’m coming back for my senior year,” Milroe said.
It will be his fourth year in Tuscaloosa, but he’s currently counted as a redshirt sophomore on Alabama’s football roster, meaning he could also return for the 2025 season should he want to. Milroe took over Alabama’s starting job this season, replacing Bryce Young, who was the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, going to the Carolina Panthers.
Milroe battled throughout the offseason with Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner for the starting spot. He took the job for the season-opener against Middle Tennessee State and played through the Week 2 loss to Texas, struggling against the Longhorns.
He watched Buchner and Simpson play from the bench as Alabama struggled in Week 3 at South Florida. The Tide pulled out a victory in that game, but Nick Saban announced Milroe would be starter going forward on the ensuing Monday.
Since then, Milroe has improved on a near-weekly basis. He’s thrown for 2,718 yards on the season, along with 23 touchdowns, showing off arm talent that has made Alabama’s deep passing game deadly.
Milroe also presents a rushing threat for opposing defenses to deal with. The quarterback has run for 468 yards and 12 touchdowns so far this season.
Alabama’s full 2024 schedule was released on Wednesday. However, Milroe and his Crimson Tide teammates don’t have to think about next season’s slate for at least one more game.
After beating Georgia for the SEC championship, the Crimson Tide earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. UA will face Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinal game on Jan. 1 in Pasadena.
If Alabama wins that game, it will play either Washington or Texas in the national championship game on Jan. 8. That game will be played in Houston, near Milroe’s hometown of Katy, Texas.