Former Alabama Stars Jalen Milroe and Robbie Ouzts Complete First Seahawks Practice With Poise, Power, and Promise in Seattle

When the Seattle Seahawks stepped onto the field for their first organized team activity of the post-NFL Draft offseason, all eyes were on two new faces—former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and fullback Robbie Ouzts. Though both players arrived in vastly different ways—Milroe as a headline-making draftee and Ouzts as an under-the-radar free agent—their presence in navy and action green marks a new chapter not just in their own careers but in the evolving identity of the Seahawks.

Seattle, a franchise steeped in tough, physical football, has always prided itself on embracing players with grit and upside. From the outset of rookie minicamp, it was evident Milroe and Ouzts had brought both in abundance. For Milroe, this practice was the latest step in a whirlwind year that saw him go from potential transfer candidate to Alabama’s unquestioned leader, culminating in a deep College Football Playoff run. For Ouzts, it was validation that his blue-collar brand of football could still carve out a niche in today’s NFL.

Milroe’s performance was measured but impressive. The throws weren’t all perfect—what first practice is?—but the arm strength, poise, and mobility that turned heads at Alabama were all on display. Whether stepping up into a collapsing pocket or firing a laser across the middle, he exuded the kind of confidence Seattle’s coaching staff had hoped for when they selected him. For a quarterback often labeled a “project,” Milroe looked remarkably polished during team drills, especially considering the notoriously steep learning curve rookies face at the position.

Perhaps most notably, Milroe’s presence as a leader was immediate. He was the first player out of the tunnel, barking encouragement to receivers and chatting up offensive linemen between reps. That type of energy is contagious, and in a Seahawks locker room undergoing transition, it’s exactly the type of culture fit general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald wanted from the former Alabama signal-caller.

“Jalen’s a competitor,” Macdonald told reporters after the session. “He wants to be great. You can see it in the way he works, the way he listens, the way he talks to guys out there. He’s still got a lot to learn, but you love that drive. He’s not just here to be on the team. He’s here to lead.”

That statement resonates even more considering Milroe wasn’t the only Crimson Tide product trying to make waves. Just a few feet away, Robbie Ouzts—a punishing fullback-tight end hybrid who made his name opening holes for Alabama’s rushing attack—was doing what he does best: bringing controlled violence to every snap. In today’s NFL, where fullbacks are all but extinct, Ouzts knows he has to make the most of every opportunity. At 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, he looked every bit the old-school mauler Seattle fans might remember from the Marshawn Lynch days.

Ouzts lined up in multiple spots throughout practice—traditional I-formation, H-back, and even split out wide on a few snaps. The message was clear: Seattle sees him as more than a bruiser. That versatility, paired with his willingness to embrace special teams, gives him a shot to make the 53-man roster.

“We’ve had our eye on Robbie for a while,” said offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. “He’s not flashy, but he plays the kind of football that wins games in November. He blocks like a lineman, catches like a tight end, and his attitude? You can’t coach that. He’s just one of those glue guys.”

The chemistry between Milroe and Ouzts, built during their time together in Tuscaloosa, was apparent. During 7-on-7 drills, Milroe looked to Ouzts on multiple check-downs and designed rollouts, trusting the big man to secure the ball and get upfield. Each time, Ouzts delivered, lowering his shoulder and finishing every play with a physical edge. That kind of familiarity, especially between rookies, is rare—and for Seattle, it could become an unexpected asset as the offseason progresses.

“Robbie and I have been grinding together for a long time,” Milroe said with a grin. “He’s one of the toughest dudes I know. Doesn’t say much, but when it’s time to go to work, he’s there every snap. Having a guy like that with me? It’s a blessing.”

Milroe, ever the perfectionist, was harder on himself when assessing the day’s work. “There were some throws I’d like back,” he admitted. “But I felt like I was seeing the field well, trusting the progressions. The speed is different, no doubt, but football is still football. I’m just focused on getting better every rep.”

That mindset has long defined Milroe’s rise. Coming into Alabama as a four-star prospect, he was overshadowed by Bryce Young. When Young left, the job wasn’t handed to him—he had to fight for it. That resilience paid off in 2023 when he led Alabama to an SEC title and earned praise for his composure and playmaking ability. Now, in Seattle, he enters another battle, this time in a crowded quarterback room that includes veterans and other young talents. But Milroe isn’t fazed. He’s been here before.

“He’s got that ‘it’ factor,” said Seahawks quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph. “You watch the tape and you see the big plays, but what I like most is how he handles adversity. He’s calm. He learns. And when he makes a mistake, you don’t see it twice.”

For Ouzts, the margin for error is thinner. Fullbacks don’t get many chances in today’s pass-first NFL, and undrafted players face an uphill climb just to make it to the final cut. But Ouzts has already started winning people over with his toughness, professionalism, and relentless motor.

“Every team needs a guy who brings his lunch pail to work,” said tight ends coach Pat McPherson. “Robbie’s that guy. He’s not trying to go viral. He’s trying to help you win.”

Seattle fans got their first glimpse of what the future might look like with these two on board. During one red-zone drill, Milroe rolled out to his right, scanned the field, then feathered a pass to the corner of the end zone. It wasn’t a touchdown, but the velocity and placement drew cheers from the sideline. Moments later, on a short-yardage simulation, Ouzts blasted through a linebacker to convert a third-and-one. Coaches clapped. Teammates nodded. These were the kind of “little wins” that earn trust, repetition, and ultimately, roles.

As the session wrapped, Milroe and Ouzts lingered together—stretching, laughing, and chatting with teammates. Their transition from Alabama’s crimson legacy to Seattle’s blue-collar culture is far from complete, but this first practice offered something far more valuable than viral highlights: belief. Belief from the coaches. Belief from their peers. And most of all, belief in themselves.

For the Seahawks, who enter a new era under Macdonald and a retooled staff, the presence of players like Milroe and Ouzts signals a commitment to rebuilding through toughness, character, and upside. Neither is guaranteed a starting job or even a roster spot, but both made clear they came to Seattle to compete—and win.

As offseason practices ramp up and the competition intensifies, the real work begins. But if Day 1 was any indication, the pairing of Jalen Milroe and Robbie Ouzts has the potential to be more than just a Crimson Tide reunion. It might just become the foundation for Seattle’s next great era.