Jimbo Fisher praises one of Alabama’s starting QB contenders

Jimbo Fisher praises one of Alabama’s starting QB contenders

One of the bigger unanswered questions heading into SEC Media Days surrounds Alabama’s quarterback situation. There are technically five contenders for the starting job and speculation is likely to continue through the offseason and remain until the Crimson Tide offense takes the field on Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee.

Of the available options — Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner, Ty Simpson, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan — only one has experience as a SEC starter. That’s Milroe, who filled in for an injured Bryce Young for about six quarters last fall. In his one leading appearance, Milroe helped the Tide to a 24-20 win over Texas A&M.

On Monday, Aggies’ head coach Jimbo Fisher praised the redshirt sophomore’s ability:

“Tremendous athlete, great arm strength, leader, fighter,” Fisher said, “… a competitor, you know what I’m saying? And a tough guy that’s athletic and can throw the football and beat you in a lot of different ways. He’s a heck of a player. I mean, he really is. I couldn’t imagine having a lot of finer athletes on the team than he is and what he does. We played against him, actually made a great decision against us, tucked the ball a couple of times, made some huge runs and made a few and made the throws at the right time. And, you know, he’s, he’s a very good player for them.”

Milroe finished 12-of-19 with 111 passing yards and three touchdowns against one interception. He was also sacked four times while totaling 107 rushing yards on 17 attempts. It wasn’t the cleanest game for Alabama as Milroe fumbled twice and Jase McClellan lost the ball once.

The Aggies had a chance to steal a victory in Bryant-Denny Stadium on the final snap in regulation, but Haynes King’s pass was incomplete. Kyle Field will host the rematch on Oct. 7.

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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].