Right before the NFL Draft, an anonymous NFL coordinator was quoted as saying that all of Alabama's skill position players would have transferred if Jalen Milroe decided to return to the Crimson Tide for his final season of eligibility.
Kalen DeBoer had an opportunity to respond to that in an interview with 93.3 KJR in Seattle on Monday. DeBoer called that report "far-fetched."
"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.”
Alabama did lose six receivers via the winter Transfer Portal window. That was more of a re-work of the room that DeBoer and WR coach JaMarcus Shepherd orchestrated than anything else. Out went underperforming players such as Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice, in came Isaiah Horton from Miami and a couple of freshman receivers signed off on by Shepherd.
It's no secret that Alabama's WR evaluations had taken a significant step backward since the "Ryde Out" days. Former WR coach Holmon Wiggins, now at Texas A&M, had some notable missteps.
Shepherd's evals, at least right away, look to be in a different league. Washington transfer Germie Bernard went from being the No. 4 option in Seattle to Alabama's No. 2 option behind Ryan Williams a season ago. Shepherd also looks to have hit a home run with freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who was an under the radar signing but could make an immediate impact for the Tide next season.
DeBoer believes Milroe would have taken a big step in 2nd season in Alabama's new system
Milroe undoubtedly had some growing pains last season in a new scheme. The highs were unbelievable. He looked like the No. 1 pick in the draft as he systematically ripped Kirby Smart's defense apart. He was dominant on the ground in a blowout win over LSU in November.
But Milroe was also downright bad in three of Alabama's four losses to Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Michigan.
In spite of the up-and-down season, Milroe is now an NFL QB. He was drafted in the third round by the Seattle Seahawks. DeBoer believes Milroe has a shot at being a legitimate NFL QB. He also believes that Milroe would have made a significant leap in year two in his system:
"I think there’s a piece where we could have continued to improve the consistency of the pocket and continued to develop a little bit of movement and things. That’s year one to year two progression, just like we did there with Michael (Penix). We progressed from year one to year two. "
Milroe has not yet played his best football. He has perhaps the highest upside of any QB in the 2025 draft class. It's easy to believe he would have taken a significant step forward with another season learning under DeBoer and new OC Ryan Grubb.
But I believe both parties are satisfied with the decision made. Milroe gets his chance in the NFL and DeBoer gets to legitimately pick his QB this season with no concern over losing the roster.