Top Transfer QB Named Candidate to Replace Jalen Milroe at Alabama
Alabama could face an uncertain future at quarterback, with top signal-caller Jalen Milroe projected as a high NFL draft pick should he choose to leave Tuscaloosa after this season.
But one insider predicts that if they lose their current quarterback, the Crimson Tide could reload with one of the nation’s top transfers.
Milroe has yet to announce his intention for 2025, though some experts suggest he could be ready to enter the NFL Draft. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner noted in October that Milroe’s struggles with consistency are overshadowed by his athleticism and the potential NFL teams will see in him.
“Still just 21 years old, Milroe is one of college football’s most dynamic quarterbacks, from an athletic standpoint,” Baumgardner wrote. “That’s not changing — and it’s why scouts will remain interested in him despite his struggles. His rushing ability (the numbers Saturday aside) and vertical touch downfield have helped keep Alabama in every game, even as things have gotten clunky during the first year of the Nick Saban-to-Kalen DeBoer transition.”
Should Milroe choose to leave Alabama for the NFL, the Crimson Tide could swoop in on soon-to-be former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, who announced this week that he is entering the transfer portal. The Big Lead’s Sam Westmoreland pegged Alabama as a top contender to land Arnold if Milroe bolts for the NFL.
“But if Milroe leaves, look for head coach Kalen DeBoer to kick the tires on potential portal quarterbacks, and no one in the portal fits what DeBoer looks for in quarterbacks better than Arnold,” he wrote. “He’s mobile, quick on his feet, has a good release, and throws a solid deep ball. We’ve seen what DeBoer’s offense can do. for quick quarterbacks with big arms in Milroe and Michael Penix, Jr. Now, Arnold could be the next in line for the Crimson Tide.”
While Alabama would be an attractive destination for many quarterbacks, Arnold would bring versatility and athleticism that the Crimson Tide saw firsthand this season. The quarterback rushed for 131 yards on 25 carries against Alabama in November, sparking a 24-3 upset.
