Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer Addresses ‘Far-Fetched’ Rumor About Jalen Milroe
Milroe elected to return to the Crimson Tide despite legendary head coach Nick Saban’s retirement after the 2023 season.
Saban had just led Alabama to another SEC championship win and College Football Playoff appearance before DeBoer was hired out of Washington to replace the seven-time national champion head coach.
High expectations surrounded the new-look program in DeBoer’s first season. And things seemed to be rolling along for the Tide and Milroe early in the season.
However, after taking down No. 1 Georgia at home to move to 4-0, Alabama suffered one of the worst losses in program history to unranked Vanderbilt before losing to rival Tennessee and two more unranked teams in Oklahoma and Michigan.
Milroe, while a feared dual-threat player at times, was specifically inconsistent as a passer. He posted career-lows as a starter in both completion percentage (64.3%) and passing efficiency (148.8 rating) with a career-high 11 interceptions.
Milroe had the choice following his redshirt junior season to either return to school or head to the 2025 NFL Draft. He chose the league, and went on to be drafted as the No. 92 overall pick to the Seattle Seahawks.
Leading up to last weekend’s draft, a rumor circulated involving Milroe’s relationship with Alabama’s wide receivers. The unsubstantiated rumor claimed that if Milroe returned to the program, the Tide’s receivers would all hit the transfer portal.
DeBoer addressed the rumor during an appearance on Sports Radio 93.3 KJR in Seattle after Milroe was drafted.
“I think I’ve heard that same quote, and I think the word ‘all’ was used, so whenever absolutes are used like that, I kind of question it right there,” DeBoer said. “The words ‘never’ and ‘always’ and ‘all’ – I think that’s a little far-fetched. I don’t think we would have lost all of our receivers for anything.”
Despite Milroe heading to the NFL, Alabama did lose six wide receivers to transfer. Fortunately for DeBoer and Co., none of those players were key contributors.
The team returns star wideout Ryan Williams alongside Germie Bernard for the 2025 season. The quarterback situation, however, is up in the air with Ty Simpson leading the charge ahead of Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.
Alabama will open the 2025 season at Florida State on Aug. 30.
