KYLEXINGTON — No, it’s unlikely that Jalen Milroe will take home the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in college football each year. Most likely won’t compete for the Davey O’Brien Award, which is given to the best quarterback in the country.
After this impressive two-game run, in which the redshirt sophomore has led Alabama’s offense to back-to-back 40-point games for the first time this season and scored 10 touchdowns in all, those are amusing ideas.
However, it’s acceptable to acknowledge that since Milroe doesn’t require those accolades for us to genuinely and honestly value his season.
Here at Kroger Field, on Saturday, Milroe amassed 270 yards and six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) as the Crimson Tide defeated Kentucky 49-21. In a single game, he became the first player in Alabama history to record three touchdowns via passing and three touchdowns via rushing.
Milroe became the first quarterback from Alabama to score four rushing touchdowns in a single game last week when the team defeated LSU 42-28. Most notably, he has guided Alabama to eight straight victories, a 9-1 overall record, a 7-0 record in SEC play, and, following Saturday’s victory, a return trip to the SEC Championship game, which is scheduled for December 2 in Atlanta.
After the game, Alabama coach Nick Saban remarked, “I think his confidence is growing and the confidence of the players around him has grown.” He played really well, and our production and performance reflected that confidence.
From a 2-1 squad that appeared lost in September to being a seat back at the table reserved for potential national title contenders, this Alabama team has risen out of the abyss. That can be attributed to a variety of factors, including an outstanding defense and Saban’s masterful coaching, but none more so than Milroe’s continuous improvement.
