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Alabama QB Jalen Milroe reveals Bill O’Brien told him to switch positions

Originally posted on Touchdown Alabama Magazine
By Stephen M. Smith | Last updated Dec 28, 2023 4:10 PM ET

He was not the people’s choice for offensive coordinator at Alabama, but Bill O’Brien did coach Bryce Young to a Heisman Memorial Trophy and the Crimson Tide’s offense to a Southeastern Conference Championship in 2021.

However, has O’Brien served as the biggest motivating factor for Jalen Milroe?

Milroe, a sophomore, has O’Brien as his offensive play-caller and quarterback coach for two years.

He recorded six touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in 2021 and 2022. O’Brien tried to use Milroe like Young, but the native Texan has a different skill set than the former five-star from California. O’Brien did not know how to properly use Milroe, but Tommy Rees has benefitted from learning about what makes him successful. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has turned in an incredible season as a first-year starter for the Tide, especially during the second half of the year. Milroe was voted a permanent team captain by his peers and earned Most Valuable Player of the team. He led the Crimson Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship and has the program back in the College Football Playoff. Milroe is tied for sixth all-time in school history for single-season touchdowns (35) and seventh all-time for total yards in a single season (3,186). Milroe has come a long way since Alabama’s week three matchup versus South Florida. He spoke to reporters Thursday at the Rose Bowl press conference for the Crimson Tide’s offensive student-athletes. Milroe highlighted O’Brien as someone he wants to prove wrong as a quarterback.

Jalen Milroe on Bill O’Brien telling him he should switch positions: @abc3340

“How would you feel if I told you that you sucked?” pic.twitter.com/V3o8kTvXha

— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) December 28, 2023

“All my life, even when I was in college,” Milroe said about coaches wanting him to play a different position. “My own offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien, told me I should not play quarterback. It is a lot of things I can have motivation on, and that is something I have motivation from.”

Milroe was candid when he was asked about how he felt when O’Brien told him he should not play quarterback.

“How would you feel if I told you that you sucked?” Milroe asked a reporter. ”

The reporter responded with “I would not like it.”

“Okay then,” Milroe said. “So, that is exactly how I felt. The biggest thing for me is to be true to myself and stay the same. Nothing has changed about me. The only thing that has changed about me is that I had an opportunity, and I seized it. I had a bigger purpose than anyone’s opinion. He (O’Brien) told me a bunch of positions I could have switched to, but look where I am now.”

Milroe ended with, “So who gets the last laugh?”

O’Brien could not get a national championship with Young, but Rees has a chance to deliver the Tide a CFP National Championship with Milroe leading the charge. Alabama takes on Michigan in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.

This article first appeared on Touchdown Alabama Magazine and was syndicated with permission.

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