Alabama QB Jalen Milroe calls a play from the road of scrimmage in opposition to Georgia, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Picture/Vasha Hunt)
An all-too-familiar sight welcomed school soccer followers with the discharge of this week’s AP Poll: Alabama is No. 1 once more.
Thanks largely 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 rating. After Alabama dominated the highest spot within the polls for greater than a decade, final season’s workforce was the first since 2007 to not be ranked No. 1 for a minimum of one week of the school soccer season. This week’s No. 1 rating marks the first for the Crimson Tide since Oct. 2, 2022.
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Towards Georgia, Milroe accomplished 27 of his 33 passing makes an attempt for 374 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He additionally rushed 16 instances for 117 yards and two extra touchdowns.
Milroe’s second passing landing got here with 2:18 remaining within the recreation on a 75-yard bomb to receiver Ryan Williams. The clutch go got here one play after Georgia stormed again from 28 factors down within the second quarter to take a 34-33 lead.
HE IS HIM.🤫@Ryanwms1
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/TEvs07ca3t
— Alabama Soccer (@AlabamaFTBL) September 29, 2024
Milroe’s heroics on a nationwide stage when the Tide wanted him most earned him the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award for the second time in as many video games. He additionally gained the award following a 42-10 victory at Wisconsin during which he threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns whereas dashing for 75 yards and two extra scores.
The 21-year-old dual-threat quarterback from Katy, Texas, leads Alabama in passing yards (964) and is tied for probably the most dashing yards (273) after the Tide’s 4-0 begin. He’s accomplished 72.9% of his passes, has thrown 10 touchdowns with only one interception, and has added eight landing runs. His play has him now as the early front-runner in the race for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
Milroe is undoubtedly one of many largest names in school soccer, however he’s not after his personal glory or fame.
“I get my energy from my Lord and Savior,” Milroe said last season after incomes Alabama’s beginning quarterback job. “I actually say that, and I give up my throne to Him, and I do know that I can lean on Him irrespective of the circumstance. I actually say I put my belief in Him it doesn’t matter what.
“That’s the place I get my energy at. My favourite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all issues via Christ who strengthens me.’ And I can actually say that. I can all the time lean on my Lord and Savior via any state of affairs.”
Two seasons in the past, Milroe backed up fellow follower of Christ Bryce Young. In an important matchup in opposition to Arkansas, Younger went down with a game-ending shoulder damage and Milroe was thrust into motion.
“The most important factor I instructed [Young] was I like him,” Milroe said after that game. “… The most important factor I needed to inform him was God was with him and I like him.”
Then, Milroe turned to God in a second of private prayer.
“The primary thought I had was simply discuss to God,” he mentioned. “Ask for cover, therapeutic. Simply know that He’s with me. So the very first thing was discuss to God. I had a one-on-one dialog with God.”
Milroe proceeded to have a powerful outing in Younger’s stead. He handed for 65 yards and one landing whereas dashing for 91 yards and one other rating. His efficiency propelled the Crimson Tide to a convincing win, 49-26.
Outdoors of soccer, Milroe participates within the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Alabama and grew up attending church. His grandfather was a deacon whereas his grandmother led a Bible research. Milroe additionally lists “religion” as his high precedence on each his Instagram and X accounts.
In July 2022, God led him to get baptized.
Jalen Milroe acquired baptized as we speak 🙏
(🎥 through @Coach_Stanfield) pic.twitter.com/nuHqJESYXN
— Landing Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) July 3, 2022
“The Bible says, ‘Don’t lean in your understanding’ … lean on the Lord via all of it,” Milroe told The Alabama Baptist in October 2022, referencing Proverbs 3:5-6. “That’s been massive, as a result of right here at ‘Bama you’re challenged day-in and day-out. Typically you may get weary; generally you possibly can waver away out of your finish purpose.
“However you understand that God has a objective. God needs us to lean on Him via all of it. Day by day I’m challenged. It doesn’t matter what, I do know that I can lean on Him. Not just for the dangerous, however I can lean on Him for good and thank Him.”
Followers have excessive expectations for Milroe and for the remainder of the 2024 Crimson Tide. Even so, Milroe is aware of he can do nothing completely, not even play soccer. What he can do is belief within the One who offers him energy.
“There’s just one Person who ever walked this earth that was good. That’s my Lord and Savior,” he said last year. “… I do know that I can get via any state of affairs with my Lord and Savior.”
Milroe and undefeated Alabama go on the street this week to face convention foe Vanderbilt (2-2). The sport is about for Saturday at 4:15 p.m. ET.
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