Jalen Milroe Makes Coaches Feel Lucky

The third day of spring practice has wrapped up for Alabama football, and the Crimson Tide won't take to the field again until after spring break for the university.

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On Friday, offensive coaches and players spent time with the media, including Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, who high praise for Alabama's offensive skill players.

Sheridan had high praise for returning starting quarterback Jalen Milroe. When asked about being confident going into 2024 with Milroe, Sheridan said, "I'm very confident. He's an extremely talented kid, but more than anything, he's a good person...Eveerybody knows the talent, his explosiveness as a passer, obviously he's an electric runner as well...I feel lucky."

Sheridan played quarterback at Michigan from 2006 to 2010. How does his experience as a quarterback help him as a coach?

"I had some ups and downs in my career as a player. That journey for me has helped me connect with the kids I've coached. I've shared my story with them, and there will be more experiences that you will share with your players to try to connect with them and try to get the best out of them. Playing quarterback at this level is a small fraternity of people, and the things that come with that, I think only a few people can fully understand what that experience is like. I think no two people or journeys are the same, no two people, no two careers. Bit, I think there are some similarities. Everybody goes through adversity, everybody goes through good and bad moments. The experiences you gain and the wisdom from that, that's our job as coaches: to get the best out of our players. I think sharing our stories are certainly helpful, and helps you connect with them."

Coach Sheridan also talked highly about some different position groups at Alabama. Caleb Odom, who made a switch from tight end to wide receiver, is a player whom Sheridan spoke of,

"WIth Caleb, we're trying to put him in a position to be successful early on in his career. He's a big kid, very athletic, very explosive, he's got a great frame. How his body grows and how he turns into being when he's 20, 21, or 22 years old, time will tell. He certainly runs well enough to be a wide receiver, he runs very well. He's a big target. So we try to put him in a position to succeed early on and not run into 275-pound people, put him in a position to have success. I think there's so much versatility in our offense; there are so many interpositional responsibilities, where tight ends, wide receivers, and running backs, are all being conceptually what we're trying to do. There's good teaching and learning there. We're just trying to utilize his strengths and put him in a position to succeed. He's been great...The moment hasn't been too big for him. He's fit right in."

Sheridan and the staff have already gotten tape and seen what Odom can do, "When we first got here, we had the chance to see some bowl prep. There were moments of him competing at a high level against good competition here in his time at Alabama. That's transitioned to spring. He's got a long way to go and a lot to learn, but he's eager, willing, likes to be coached, and cares about football."

Coach Sheridan also said he expects to call plays in the fall.