Football

QB Jalen Milroe knows he can 'lean on my Lord & Savior' as Alabama returns to No. 1

By Kevin Mercer Oct 1, 2024
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe calls a play from the line of scrimmage against Georgia, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

An all-too-familiar sight welcomed college football fans with the release of this week’s AP Poll: Alabama is No. 1 again.

Thanks in large part to the play of redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Milroe, Alabama took out previously-No. 2 Georgia, 41-34, on Saturday, leapfrogging Texas and Ohio State into the No. 1 ranking. After Alabama dominated the top spot in the polls for more than a decade, last season’s team was the first since 2007 not to be ranked No. 1 for at least one week of the college football season. This week’s No. 1 ranking marks the first for the Crimson Tide since Oct. 2, 2022.

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Against Georgia, Milroe completed 27 of his 33 passing attempts for 374 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed 16 times for 117 yards and two more touchdowns.

Milroe’s second passing touchdown came with 2:18 remaining in the game on a 75-yard bomb to receiver Ryan Williams. The clutch pass came one play after Georgia stormed back from 28 points down in the second quarter to take a 34-33 lead.

Milroe’s heroics on a national stage when the Tide needed him most earned him the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award for the second time in as many games. He also won the award following a 42-10 victory at Wisconsin in which he threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 75 yards and two more scores.

The 21-year-old dual-threat quarterback from Katy, Texas, leads Alabama in passing yards (964) and is tied for the most rushing yards (273) after the Tide’s 4-0 start. He’s completed 72.9% of his passes, has thrown 10 touchdowns with just one interception, and has added eight touchdown runs. His play has him now as the early front-runner in the race for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.

Milroe is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in college football, but he’s not after his own glory or fame.

“I get my strength from my Lord and Savior,” Milroe said last season after earning Alabama’s starting quarterback job. “I honestly say that, and I surrender my throne to Him, and I know that I can lean on Him no matter the circumstance. I honestly say I put my trust in Him no matter what.

“That’s where I get my strength at. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ And I can honestly say that. I can always lean on my Lord and Savior through any situation.”

 

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Two seasons ago, Milroe backed up fellow follower of Christ Bryce Young. In a crucial matchup against Arkansas, Young went down with a game-ending shoulder injury and Milroe was thrust into action.

“The biggest thing I told [Young] was I love him,” Milroe said after that game. “… The biggest thing I wanted to tell him was God was with him and I love him.”

Then, Milroe turned to God in a moment of personal prayer.

“The first thought I had was just talk to God,” he said. “Ask for protection, healing. Just know that He’s with me. So the first thing was talk to God. I had a one-on-one conversation with God.”

Milroe proceeded to have an impressive outing in Young’s stead. He passed for 65 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 91 yards and another score. His performance propelled the Crimson Tide to a convincing win, 49-26.

Outside of football, Milroe participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Alabama and grew up attending church. His grandfather was a deacon while his grandmother led a Bible study. Milroe also lists “faith” as his top priority on both his Instagram and X accounts.

In July 2022, God led him to get baptized.

“The Bible says, ‘Do not lean on your understanding’ … lean on the Lord through it all,” Milroe told The Alabama Baptist in October 2022, referencing Proverbs 3:5-6. “That’s been big, because here at ‘Bama you’re challenged day-in and day-out. Sometimes you can get weary; sometimes you can waver away from your end goal.

“But you know that God has a purpose. God wants us to lean on Him through it all. Every day I’m challenged. No matter what, I know that I can lean on Him. Not only for the bad, but I can lean on Him for good and thank Him.”

Fans have high expectations for Milroe and for the rest of the 2024 Crimson Tide. Even so, Milroe knows he can do nothing perfectly, not even play football. What he can do is trust in the One who gives him strength.

“There’s only one Person that ever walked this earth that was perfect. That’s my Lord and Savior,” he said last year. “… I know that I can get through any situation with my Lord and Savior.”

Milroe and undefeated Alabama go on the road this week to face conference foe Vanderbilt (2-2). The game is set for Saturday at 4:15 p.m. ET.

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