Unique Senior Bowl interview: Jalen Milroe talks Lamar Jackson comparability, his doubters

The Cleveland Browns is not going to have their beginning quarterback Deshaun Watson obtainable to start the 2025 season, and simply presumably by no means. So, they must discover a new starter.

On the Reese’s Senior Bowl, the QB class was deep with expertise for all rounds. Each considered one of these guys wished to do nicely and advance their draft inventory by having a terrific week.

Jalen Milroe, whose full identify is Jalen Oluwaseun Isaiah Milroe, of Alabama had 6,016 profession passing yards with 426 completions on 663 makes an attempt. He had 45 touchdowns in opposition to 20 picks. Identified for gaining actual property along with his legs, he ran 375 occasions for 1,577 yards and an unbelievable 33 scores.

RELATED: DRAFT PROFILE JALEN MILROE

In his senior yr, he received the William Campbell Trophy given to the to the American faculty soccer participant with the perfect mixture of lecturers, group service, and on-field efficiency. He was additionally voted Second Workforce All-SEC on the finish of his 2023 season.

Earlier than the Senior Bowl week, Milroe had a rating at #68 which is a projection within the third spherical. He had some very rocky practices which can have harm his draft inventory.

The Browns decide #33 in Spherical 2, #67 and #94 in Spherical 3, and #103 in Spherical 4. After all, Milroe has ties to Browns OC Tommy Rees who was Milroe’s OC for one season at Alabama.

On the Senior Bowl, Dawgs By Nature’s Barry Shuck was in a position to focus on a couple of issues with Milroe in the course of the observe week.

Jalen Milroe – Alabama
6’-2”, 220 kilos
40 time: 4.3
Projected spherical: 2-3

Q: You have got an important alternative this week on the Senior Bowl to point out off your abilities. What are you hoping from this week?

A: There’s simply a lot that has been introduced with me being right here. I’m able to compete with the perfect of the perfect and study from NFL coaches.

Q: What do you are feeling like you must enhance upon?

A: I really feel the introduction to the NFL system is first off. Getting comfy in a brand new system whether or not it’s footwork or timing or it’s reads. Preparation is the perfect factor to achieve success and I acquired to issue that into being in these positions. It’s an introduction of what’s forward.

Picture by Don Juan Moore/Getty Photos

Q: How did you come to the choice to go away Alabama and declare for the draft?

A: Finally, all of it got here all the way down to placing my greatest foot ahead. In being in faculty I used to be in a position to get a lot expertise and publicity at being on the College of Alabama. One of the best factor was the expertise I used to be in a position to get from the teaching workers. In my freshman yr, I used to be round Coach O’Brien transitioning to Coach Rees after which Nick Sheridan. Throughout all this time I used to be in a position to get reps because the backup to Bryce Younger. From being 18 to now, I acquired a lot publicity, and expertise and a lot I’ve been in a position to study and develop, I believed it was the perfect choice.

Q: Do you are feeling you’re one of many high quarterbacks on this draft class?

A: I don’t really feel that’s for me to say. It’s all about how can I get higher day by day I’ve the chance to play soccer. And a part of the method is how can I be higher than I used to be yesterday. The work that you simply put in right this moment is just not for right this moment however for tomorrow. The work you place in yesterday is for right this moment. One of the best factor I can do is mirror on the 2024 yr and discover a weak spot and switch it right into a power. Slender that focus as a complete and deal with issues that make me distinctive.

Q: Any person talked about a comparability together with your abilities and Lamar Jackson. Your ideas?

A: Lamar Jackson may be very dominant and it’s been evident to how he’s performed this season for somebody who’s impressed to go to the NFL simply seeing as he takes his recreation to the subsequent degree every yr him being the highest of the league. That’s inspiring for positive as a younger quarterback. That positively places a smile to my face and I positively love watching. Secretly, I’m really a Ravens fan and rising up I pulled for Baltimore.

Q: What do you supply an NFL staff?

A: I supply an important chief and a quarterback that’s keen to do no matter it takes to win whether or not holding a clipboard or on the sector producing.

Q: With taking part in for Coach Nick Saban earlier than this previous yr, you find yourself beneath an enormous microscope with an enormous curler coaster of feelings. Who do you lean on for help?

A: I’m really agency on household and religion. I mirror on that as a lot as doable as I’m going on this journey of life. When hardship comes, I do know I’ve an important help system round me. I do know I can’t do every part on my own. I don’t imagine within the phrases “self-made.” It takes a staff, it takes a village, it takes a bunch of people who find themselves like-minded and likewise smarter than me to get you alongside this course of. I can stay grounded and humble. My mother and father are superior. They’re concerned in every part. They didn’t miss one recreation of me in faculty whether or not I began or didn’t begin. Their nice moments was being round their son. I didn’t recognize that till I left for school.

Q: Tommy Rees was your OC for one season at Alabama. He’s now the OC with the Browns. Would that be a bonus for you with the familiarity?

A: I’ve a lot respect for Coach Rees as an individual and a coach. I realized a lot from him and he trusted me to have the ball in my arms. He’s a coach who will put within the grind. We each labored collectively nicely and achieved loads for that one season. I might look ahead for us to work collectively once more.

Q: You performed within the SEC the place it appears nearly each week it’s an enormous recreation. How do you deal with the stress with a superb opponent?

A: First you need to breathe, you need to settle down as a result of your blood stress is perhaps pumping. Everybody goes to look to you when issues go unhealthy, so you need to be calm. You need to keep centered and focus what’s on the sector and keep locked in.

Q: Towards Michigan within the faculty soccer playoffs final yr, you need the ball in your arms but the ending of that recreation didn’t go your means. How do you deal with defeat figuring out this loss is finality as an alternative of getting ready to your subsequent opponent?

A: I had two feelings strolling off the sector. The primary emotion is quick off that play. Our season is over with. The ball is in my arms the final play and I’m the one one who may have modified that play. The one ones who can really feel my ache is me and the OC. Might I’ve executed one thing higher? There’s lots of components in that recreation – may I’ve made a greater learn? Ought to I’ve checked that ball down? Might I’ve protected that ball extra? You do this when it’s been taken away from you. My second emotion was I used to be appreciative of the second. The final play yof the sport, the ball was in my arms. Which means they trusted me. I noticed Coach Rees after the sport and I instructed him I appreciated him. The sport is all about taking dangers.

Q: What do you say to the naysayers who speak about your talents are connected to the system you performed in?

A: I’ve to flip the web page on exterior elements. It’s all concerning the mindset and the way I method the sport. There are going to be doubters and naysayers. I don’t have time to breathe or get complacent. As I’m going alongside this course of taking part in the sport that I really like, I might by no means take an important day with no consideration. The day I cease studying and cease getting higher, is the day I must retire.