Bill O'Brien advised Jalen Milroe to switch positions

As Alabama prepares for its College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan, starting quarterback Jalen Milroe was reflective on his own journey at Thursday’s media availability. Milroe’s late-season ascension — after some notable struggles in September — was a catalyst in Alabama winning the SEC championship and earning the No. 4 seed in the CFP.

“When you look at me, you don’t think I play quarterback,” Milroe said. “You think I play defensive back, tight end. You don’t think I played quarterback. Growing up when I went to camp, they labeled me as a receiver or they saw me as not playing the quarterback position. With that, I beat all odds by playing quarterback, and that is something I try to do as much as possible, be an efficient quarterback, be the best version of myself playing the position, because at the end of the day, I want to be the best that I’m doing right now.”

Those labels continued at Alabama, according to Milroe. He said that former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who was on staff during his first two seasons, told Milroe he should change positions.

“My own offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien told me I shouldn’t play quarterback,” Milroe said. “So there’s a lot of things I could have motivation on, and that’s motivation.”

Milroe filled in for Bryce Young in 2022 under O’Brien when Young was injured in two games, against Arkansas and Texas A&M — both victories. This season under new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, Milroe has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 2,718 yards with 23 passing touchdowns and six interceptions. Milroe finished sixth in the 2023 Heisman voting and confirmed earlier this month that he will return for the 2024 season.

“The biggest thing was to stay true to myself,” Milroe said. “I had a bigger purpose than anyone’s opinion. (O’Brien) told me a bunch of positions I could’ve switched to, but look where I’m at, so who has the last laugh?”

Milroe and the offense will now prepare for their toughest challenge yet in Michigan, the No. 1 defense nationally in points allowed per game (9.46) and No. 2 in yards allowed per game (239.7). Rees stated on Thursday he has full confidence in Milroe, and his increased control of the offense has been his biggest improvement this season.

“I think the thing we’ve been able to do throughout the season is you start building the system around the quarterback,” Rees said. “It gives the quarterback a lot of confidence, and then when they start to have some autonomy in what you’re doing, it gets greater buy-in from the player. I think that’s all part of the growth, and that shows trust and belief in the individual, which ultimately then can help bring the best out of what they have.”

Required reading

(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)