Jalen Milroe is probably not drafted as excessive as Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, however he’ll definitely hear his identify referred to as through the 2025 NFL Draft.
The previous Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback is regarded by some because the third-best quarterback prospect on this 12 months’s draft.
The 22-year-old is coming off of a prolific season wherein he posted 36 whole touchdowns (20 dashing) throughout his senior 12 months with the Crimson Tide.
Coming into the draft, Milroe is arguably probably the most intriguing quarterback prospect due to his dual-threat talents.
Milroe rushed for 726 yards and his 20 touchdowns ranked second amongst all quarterbacks and eighth within the nation final season. Nevertheless, a few of his throwing capabilities are being questioned, primarily the accuracy of his intermediate throwing.
It’s the rationale why Milroe is projected as a second or third-round draft decide. Though he’s not a surefire first-round decide, he’s one of many 17 prospects being invited to the draft in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin.
That invite has led to hypothesis that an NFL staff could also be zeroing in on him as a first-round decide.
“It isn’t for all of you to know,” Milroe informed Card Participant when requested if he has information that he’s being drafted sooner than anticipated. “It’s positively a dream of mine to attend the draft. I’m so excited to grab the chance. I’ll be capable of inform my household of my very own sooner or later that I attended the draft and I’m in a position to seize each alternative of it. I’m fulfilling my dream and I’m going to take pleasure in each little bit of it.”
Senior Bowl Hand Measurement Measurement ‘Was Incorrect’
Whereas Milroe might circuitously be answering the query of whether or not or not he is aware of he’s going early within the draft, he’s placing to relaxation the entire subject of his hand measurement main into the draft.
On the Senior Bowl, his palms measured at 8 3/4 inches, which is deemed small on the NFL degree. Nevertheless, his palms measured at 9 3/8 inches on the NFL Mix, which is taken into account common measurement for a quarterback and greater than Ward (9 inches) and equal to Sanders (9 3/8 inches).
“It was flawed, they did it flawed,” says Milroe whereas laughing concerning the measurement on the Senior Bowl. “They only did it flawed.”
Among the many groups which can be displaying curiosity in him main into the draft are the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants.
“I believe it’s a terrific alternative when you may have these conferences, particularly near the draft,” says Milroe within the one-on-one interview on behalf of his partnership with USAA. “All the pieces is relationship primarily based, for them to have the ability to hear my story, hear why they coach, X’s and O’s and speak about their schemes.”
Milroe particulars what goes on in these conferences with groups main into the draft and mentions he’s met with “loads” of groups.
“Throughout the entire course of, I used to be in a position to meet plenty of groups,” Milroe says. “With these groups, particularly installations are concerned, their course of, understanding the day within the lifetime of them. Say I used to be a quarterback for that staff, simply having the ability to know what’s requested of the quarterback each day and the usual.”
Assembly With Rams Went ‘Nice’
The twin-threat quarterback is from Texas and singles out his go to to the Seahawks’ facility contemplating he had by no means been to Seattle prior, saying the surroundings was “loopy” in a great way.
Simply previous to the interview, Milroe had met with the Rams, calling it a “nice” assembly.
“I simply met with the Rams,” Milroe particulars. “Nice assembly with them. It doesn’t matter what staff it’s, it’s so essential simply to speak ball with them, get an understanding of how I view X’s and O’s and the method of it’s massive. The assembly went nicely. Each certainly one of them, I pass over, and so they pass over so impressed with me.”
The 6-foot-2 quarterback explains why the method of assembly in individual with groups is pivotal.
“It’s completely different from watching tape,” says Milroe. “To satisfy me in individual and simply be capable of hear my course of, hear all the things as an entire, me as a participant, my preparational part that folks miss, the intelligence I’ve. Each staff I meet, all of them depart impressed.”
Milroe’s persona and management traits stand out as a consequence of his maturity. A variety of that stems from coming from a navy background — each of his mother and father served — and in addition when contemplating he started his profession because the backup to Bryce Younger at Alabama. Younger finally grew to become the No. 1 decide within the 2023 NFL Draft of the Carolina Panthers.
He particulars how that have has ready him for “adaptability” on the NFL degree. In different phrases, he’s ready to play any function, which suggests backup throughout his rookie season. Contemplating the groups which can be fascinated about him all have veterans entrenched because the starters, Milroe must be ready to probably sit out most, if not his total rookie season.
Milroe additionally particulars how he stays near Younger to at the present time and the way he can at all times lean on the third-year quarterback for recommendation. He additionally brings up how any of the Alabama quarterbacks within the NFL — Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones are just a few — or any veteran signal-callers are at all times a “cellphone name away.”
“I used to be in a position to see Bryce after I was in California,” says Milroe. “I skilled in California, he skilled in California. I used to be in a position to see him. Irrespective of if we’re in individual or not, everybody’s a cellphone name away. I’ll be capable of discuss to all people throughout this course of.”
Milroe mentions the way it’s essential to repeatedly “develop your mindset” and says you do this by listening to others who have already got the expertise that you just don’t have.
“What I take pleasure in probably the most is listening to from folks which were by means of the method, dwelling within the footwear that I do,” says Milroe. “Enjoying the quarterback place, it’s a troublesome place. It’s so essential that you just frequently develop your mindset, construct in your craft, not getting complacent. Having psychological toughness, but in addition being round folks with information that you just wouldn’t have.”
.jpg)
DJ Siddiqi is a sports activities reporter who focuses on soccer, basketball, baseball and professional wrestling. He has lined a number of the largest sporting occasions, together with the NBA Finals and Wrestlemania and sometimes interviews high-profile athletes. Siddiqi has interviewed the likes of Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, Tony Hawk and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
