The longest part of the offseason has finally begun for Alabama football. The spring transfer portal window is over, though the Crimson Tide could still add a bit more talent that way.

It’s time to look forward to the 2024 season, Kalen DeBoer’s first as the Tide’s head coach. He’ll have an established starting quarterback, with Jalen Milroe returning after garnering Heisman votes last season.

On Wednesday, speaking before playing the celebrity pro-am before the Regions Tradition, DeBoer was asked what he’d seen in Milroe’s development since becoming head coach.

“He really came a long way in processing, playing the game, moving the chains,” DeBoer said.

The Crimson Tide already concluded DeBoer’s first round of spring practice as head coach. After beating out other contenders for the job last season, the coach made it clear that Milroe is his man for 2024.

He went on to explain what he wants to see in the future from his signal-callers

“And so just when he hits fall camp, I think just having 100 percent confidence in every concept we put in,” DeBeor said. “Especially in the first week or two that he’s had rep after rep after rep and can not just execute but also run the whole show. Just telling every guy what their responsibility is. And so it goes beyond your position, it goes on to leading the rest of the offense.”

Alabama will open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky.