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Jalen Milroe is off to the NFL.
The Alabama quarterback announced he will forego his senior season and declare for the NFL draft on Thursday:
The 22-year-old had a solid junior season, throwing for 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 64.3 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 726 yards and an impressive 20 touchdowns on the ground.
He led the Crimson Tide to a 9-4 record, though Alabama was left out of the College Football Playoff. Instead, the Crimson Tide were invited to the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan in a rematch of last season’s CFP semifinal, which they lost.
Heading into this year’s NFL draft, there arguably isn’t a definitive top prospect at the quarterback position like Caleb Williams from a year ago, though Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are probably the leaders in the clubhouse.
But Milroe is part of a group that could be off the board in the first two days of the draft, joining players like Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas’ Quinn Ewers, among others.
The B/R NFL Scouting Department’s Dame Parson called Milroe “the most physically gifted quarterback prospect in the draft class” and “one of the most explosive athletes at any position in college football,” comparing him to “shades of Jalen Hurts with a jet pack and a stronger arm.”
His dual-threat ability will make him an intriguing prospect for teams in need of a quarterback, though he won’t reach his ceiling if he doesn’t continue to develop in the pocket, which isn’t dissimilar to Hurts, who at times has struggled with his pocket presence and forcing throws.
If Milroe can continue to grow in that area, however, he could be a difference-maker at the next level. He’ll be a fascinating player to monitor ahead of April’s draft.