After losing former heisman-winner Bryce Young to the NFL Draft, Alabama spent it's offseason searching for their next starting quarterback. After a three headed race featuring last year's backup Jalen Milroe, redshirt-sophomore Ty Simpson, and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Simpson, coach Nick Saban announced Milroe as the week 1 starter on Friday.
The third year player saw limited action as Young's backup in 2022, only making seven passing attempts on the year. Even though Milroe was this week's starter, Saban said that the week 1 starter wouldn't necessarily be "locked in" as the starter for the rest of the season. It's safe to say after tonight though that Milroe should be Alabama's starter for the remainder of the season.
In his very first game as Crimson Tide's starter, Milroe became the very first player in program history to have three passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns in a single game. One of his rushing touchdowns came on a botched snapped that he somehow scooped up and took to the endzone.
Jalen Milroe made a TD out of this snap ?
(via @AlabamaFTBL) pic.twitter.com/57zc4is4sV
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) September 3, 2023
In the passing game, Milroe threw for 194 yards and a passer rating of 125.4. His incredible arm strength was shown off late in the second-quarter when with pressure on his side, he launched a pass 52-yards through the air for a touchdown to receiver Isiah Bond.
Okay Jalen Milroe, we see you?
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 3, 2023
After his fifth touchdown of the night put Alabama up 42-0 early in the second-half, Milroe was replaced with Buchner. While Milroe still has to prove himself against the much more challenging defenses of the SEC, Saturday night's record-breaking performance likely solidified the dual-threat quarterback as Alabama's starter for the season.
