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Kalen DeBoer addresses claim that Jalen Milroe’s return would have led to Alabama players transferring
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Ahead of the NFL Draft, an anonymous quote about Jalen Milroe turned heads around the college football community.
Per NFL.com, an AFC coordinator claimed to know that if Milroe had returned to Alabama for the 2025 college football season, Alabama skill players would have transferred out to play elsewhere.
He’s a 22 mph-on-the-ground guy,” the coordinator said, per Tom Pelissero. “He’s got a fastball that’s not very accurate. He doesn’t know when to take it off the ball. We heard out of Alabama all the skill [players] would’ve transferred if he came back. He wants to be known as a pocket quarterback and your best skill is you’re frickin’ fast.
Kalen DeBoer isn’t putting much stock into the claim from the AFC coordinator. On Monday, DeBoer appeared on Seattle radio station KJR 93.3 to talk about the Seahawks drafting Milroe and Robbie Ouzts. The Alabama coach was asked about the quote about players potentially transferring to not play with Milroe.
“I think I’ve heard that same quote and I think the word ‘all’ is used, so whenever absolutes are used, I kind of question it right there,” DeBoer said. “Like, the words ‘never’ and ‘always,’ and ‘all’ — I think that’s a little far-fetched.”
DeBoer laughed at the idea that Milroe returning would have led to all of Alabama’s wide receivers entering the transfer portal. As it worked out, the UA wide receiver room did have multiple departures despite Milroe opting for the NFL Draft. Six receivers from the 2024 squad entered the portal.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
