Jalen Milroe played the best game of his career, Jermaine Burton showed he is difference maker, and the Alabama defense has a chance to be special. That according to SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy.

The former Alabama quarterback, in his “Always College Football” podcast, shared his latest impressions of the Tide after Nick Saban’s group went into College Station to earn a 26-20 win over Texas A&M.

“Alabama, not a great start in this game, but just an awesome second-half performance,” McElroy said. “I thought Jalen Milroe probably played the best game of his career, outside the interception. I thought he played pretty well. Obviously, sacks are a little bit of a concern, but that was a gutsy spot to go play, naturally. They were able to get it done.”

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Milroe finished 21 of 33 for 321 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Jermaine Burton, who had nine catches for 197 yards, was on the receiving end of two of Milroe’s scoring passes.

“You think about where he was,” McElroy said. “I always wondered how good is Jermaine Burton? Is he a No. wide receiver or is he more of a high-level (No.) 2, mid-tier (No.) 2? … But he showed on Saturday he can do what you need hm to do if the opportunity presents itself.”

McElroy believes the defense, which held A&M to just three second-half points, is on its way to being special.

“The defense for Alabama was just terrific in the second half of that football game,” McElroy said. “Just absolutely terrific.

“We’ve been talking the past couple of weeks. I think this has a chance to be an elite group on defense. They are slowly and surely rounding into form in that regard.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.