Jalen Milroe knows what Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed was able to do against LSU’s defense.
The Alabama redshirt junior quarterback said Reed was “prepared to go in and play,” scoring three touchdowns on nine carries for 62 yards and showing grit and determination in the Aggies‘ 38-23 win against the Tigers on Oct. 26.
Reed’s performance caught Milroe’s attention because it’s something Milroe has done before.
In Alabama’s 42-28 win against LSU on Nov. 4, 2023, Milroe paired 219 yards passing with 155 rushing, scoring four of the Crimson Tide‘s six touchdowns, each of which came on a run.
Heading into 2024 and into enemy territory with a road date against the Tigers on Saturday, Milroe says the Tigers have improved dramatically on defense, whether it’s their “disruptive edge rushers,” their disciplined and physical linebackers that “flow to the football” or their lengthy secondary.
But one thing remains for Milroe.
“It’s hard for any defense to go against a running quarterback,” Milroe said. “There’s so (many) things that they have to look at when it comes to stopping a quarterback that can throw and (run) the football. That’s just hard for any defense to go against no matter if it’s LSU, no matter who the opponent is. It’s hard for any defense to stop the element of the pass and run.”
Milroe, who has 380 yards rushing and 12 rushing touchdowns, has exceeded 100 yards once in 2024: a 117-yard and two-touchdown performance in Alabama’s 41-34 win against Georgia. Since then, Milroe has combined for 107 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 50 carries, averaging 2.14 yards per touch.
Reed is not the first quarterback to find success in the ground game against LSU. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers had 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 10 carries.
For Milroe, it’s not about what Reed did, or what he did one year ago. It’s about Saturday. Nothing more.
“I think for us, we just have to have confidence going in (from) our preparation because that is going to factor into the game with our preparation and our mindset,” Milroe said.
For Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, that’s the beauty of a quarterback like Milroe. It’s steadiness, consistency and remaining present in practice and preparation.
“I think that gives you the best chance to play well in the game and have the most confidence in the game,” Sheridan said. “You lean back on your routines, your preparation, your training.”
Alabama will take on LSU at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him atcgay@gannett.com or follow him@_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
