Jalen Milroe wowed in his first start for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022, and now, over two years later, he’s ready to sail away to the NFL. But before joining Alabama, Milroe was already making a name for himself in high school.
There were plenty of ups and downs, but through it all the dual-threat quarterback has been an athlete worth rooting for because of his hard work, as visible in his recruitment video from high school.
Jalen Milroe Watches Recruitment Film From High School
Milroe looked back at some high school practice footage on Jan. 8 and called it “crazy,” also giving thought to how much he’s grown since prior to his recruitment.
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A four-star recruit from Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas, Milroe joined Bama in 2021. In his junior year, he threw for 2,689 yards and 29 touchdowns while also rushing for 278 yards and seven TDs.
During his undefeated (COVID-shortened) senior season, he passed for 1,136 yards and 13 scores, seeing his team win nearly 30 games during his time at high school. Although he initially gave his pledge to Texas, he later shifted to Alabama.
Milroe’s style as a dual-threat QB has been something that head coaches have been fond of. His high school coach, Todd McVey, compared Milroe to Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, pointing out his artistry in escaping defenders while keeping his eyes downfield. Kalen DeBoer, fresh off his first season at Alabama, also echoed these sentiments in terms of Jackson being a “blueprint” for Milroe’s future.
“I think it’s that style of play that would be a great fit for him for sure,” DeBoer told the Akron Beacon Journal. “And there’s a lot of things you can do, as we’ve seen with Lamar, at that level that you can win a lot of football games.
“And so that I think is fair. Again, we’re talking about the style, I’m talking about the style, and now it’s a matter of being around the right people as you continue to develop and grow and keep taking those steps each and every day, each and every year.”
Milroe finished the 2024 campaign at Alabama with 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns, completing 64.3% of his passes. He also rushed for 726 yards and 20 scores on 168 carries.
Off the field, in another instance of his work ethic, the QB won the 2024 Campbell Trophy for being the top college football scholar-athlete and graduated with a degree in business management and entrepreneurship.