Alabama hires Kalen DeBoer: Why QB Jalen Milroe should take big forward step under wing of offensive guru

Alabama’s decision to hire Kalen DeBoer marks a significant paradigm shift in one of college football’s most storied programs. The Crimson Tide go from Nick Saban — as close to a sure thing as you can get in this sport — to a relatively young up-and-comer with just two years of head coaching experience at the power conference level. 

Suffice to say, many Tide fans have some some legitimate concerns about DeBoer’s inexperience. But one thing’s for sure: His arrival in Tuscaloosa is a best-case scenario for Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe. 

Milroe shoewed progress as a first-year starter for Alabama in 2023. He narrowly won the starting battle in the offseason, got benched after a Week 2 loss to Texas and came back to finish the last six regular season games with 17 total touchdowns. 

As fans were treated to passing glimpses of Milroe’s high ceiling, it became obvious there is still a ton left in the tank. Milroe would show flashes of greatness, but consistency eluded him — even, at times, during his hot late-season run. He’s still a ball of clay that’s far from fully formed. And DeBoer is the perfect coach to unlock that remaining potential. 

Simply put, quarterbacks — and offenses as a result — get significantly better when DeBoer arrives on the scene. There’s plenty of historical data from each of his last three major jobs to show that he just understands how to get the most out of a signal caller and the playmakers around him. 

Tracking DeBoer’s ‘Midas Touch’ with quarterbacks

Indiana

When DeBoer arrived at Indiana as offensive coordinator in 2019, he inherited a passing offense that managed a paltry 257.8 yards per game the year prior. The Hoosiers made a change at quarterback in DeBoer’s first year, benching incumbent starter Peyton Ramsey for redshirt freshman Michael Penix Jr. 

Penix would go on to suffer a season-ending injury five games into the year, handing the reins back to Ramsey. Even with the quarterback turnover, Indiana still improved its passing offense by almost 50 yards per game, finishing second in the Big Ten with a 302.4-yard average. 

A look at Ramsey’s numbers before, during and after DeBoer’s time with the Hoosiers shows the impact he can have on a quarterback. 

• 2018 (before DeBoer): 12 starts, 2,875 yards passing (239.6 per start), 19 touchdowns to 13 interceptions 
• 2019 (with DeBoer): 7 starts, 2,454 yards passing (350.6…