Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe has had an up-and-down season so far. The preseason All-American led the team to victories in their first four games, including a standout performance against the now No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs. In that game, Milroe completed 27 of 33 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. At that point, he was considered a strong favorite for the Heisman Trophy with odds of +175, followed by Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward at +500.
Since then, however, Milroe has fallen out of the Heisman conversation as Alabama has gone 2-2, with losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee. During this stretch, the senior quarterback has thrown five interceptions and hasn’t quite matched his performance from the Georgia game. On Thursday’s episode of *The McShay Show*, former NFL draft analyst Todd McShay compared the 2025 quarterback class, which includes Milroe, Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck, and others, to the 2023 class.
McShay noted similarities between Milroe and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, praising their athleticism and arm strength. McShay explained, “It was Richardson getting drafted way too high. Maybe that becomes like the Jalen Milroe spot. You’re betting on the athleticism, the big-time arm.” He added that while both quarterbacks have strengths, they still need more time to develop. “Milroe has experience in big games and in the SEC, which gives him an edge over Richardson, who had only 12-13 starts out of Florida. But you’d still like to see more game experience from him,” McShay said.
Richardson, drafted No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, was recently benched in favor of 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco after playing in just 10 games over two seasons. The Colts remain hopeful for Richardson’s future, with head coach Shane Steichen focusing on giving him more time to develop.
Milroe, a four-star recruit from the 2021 high school class, has recorded 1,937 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions this season, along with 380 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. The No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide is set to face the No. 15 LSU Tigers in Death Valley on Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
