Kalen DeBoer Drops Major Clue About Who Will Be Alabama's Starting QB

Would it shock anyone to learn Jalen Milroe opened Alabama's spring practice at the top of Alabama's depth chart?

Kalen DeBoer is ushering in a new era of Alabama Crimson Tide football after being hired to replace Nick Saban. He has some massive shoes to fill. Many would argue too big to fill, and that's something fans will debate for a long time moving forward.

One of the biggest questions moving forward is if Jalen Milroe will retain the starting QB role in a re-tooled offense that will likely be much pass heavier than what Saban ran in his final year.

Will Jalen Milroe start at QB for Alabama in 2024? (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jalen Milroe looks ready to retain Alabama starting QB role.

Well, the new Crimson Tide head coach isn't ready to name a starter right now, the dual-threat physical freak of nature did take the QB1 reps to open spring ball.

DeBoer said the following after Alabama's first spring practice Monday, according to Sports Illustrated:

"Yeah you want competition, right? The competition's always going to be there. Someone had to take the first reps today with the ones when we lined up and we referred to them as that and Jalen did. So he's putting everything into that he can along with the other guys that took those first reps. I fully expect those guys that are really hungry to be pushing those guys that are ahead of them to be their best. That's what you want in a football program. That certainly can be the case here with so many good football players here wanting to get on the football field."

Jalen Milroe opens spring practice as QB1 for the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Nobody should be surprised by the fact Jalen Milroe opened DeBoer's first practice as the team's starting QB. Yes, he got off to a rough start in his first season as the starting QB in Tuscaloosa and was even benched going into the USF game.

However, it's crazy people think Milroe will actually be relegated to the bench. He threw for 2,834 yards, 23 touchdowns, rushed for 531 yards and tacked on 12 rushing touchdowns last season. He was one of the best players in America last season. Not only was he one of the best players in America, but there's nobody on Alabama's roster that is even close in terms of upside at this moment.

Ty Simpson will have a shot at being QB2 when the season opens, and he threw for a grand total of 179 yards last year. Washington transfer Austin Mack, another great QB2 candidate, and Dylan Lonergan are also on the roster, and neither has a snowball's chance in hell of sniffing the field over Jalen Milroe at this moment, in my opinion. There has been some speculation Mack following DeBoer from Washington might be a sign of things to come, but read into that as much as you'd like.

Can things change? Without a doubt. Bt Milroe tore it up down the stretch last season, and DeBoer knows offense. He should have no issue tooling an offense around him.

Jalen Milroe is coming off a strong 2024 season. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

Of course, injuries happen, players can regress and changes can be made, but as of March 2024, Jalen Milroe is locked and loaded as QB1 in Tuscaloosa, and it'd be shocking if that were to change. Let me know if you agree at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.