Alabama's "Lethal" Quarterbacks

Alabama's quarterback room is held as one of the top rooms in the country. Athlon Sports ranked Alabama's quarterback room as the No. 3 quarterback room in the SEC, behind Heisman hopefuls Quinn Ewers and Texas and Carson Beck and Georgia.

Get our free mobile app

Jalen Milroe is another one of the Heisman-hopeful quarterbacks in the SEC. As the highest returning player who received a Heisman vote in 2023, Milroe's dual-threat and deep passing ability, combined with a new offensive-minded head coach, make him an early fan favorite for the coveted award in 2024.

While on Inside the Locker Room with Wimp and Barry Sanderson, Alabama Co-offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach JaMarcus Shephard discussed Alabama's quarterback room beyond just Jalen Milroe.

"We’ve got guys in there who, at any point can throw the ball at a very high level," Shephard said. "Obviously a lot of it starts with Jalen Milroe. He had a phenomenal spring, just learning the system and understanding how we wanted him to read the concepts. His leadership qualities were on display fully throughout the spring. It was fun to watch what this young man can do, honestly, just having been a part of an offense where the quarterback might be the most athletic guy on the football field.

A lot of criticism Milroe faced in 2023 was reading schemes and dissecting a defense. If Kalen DeBoer, Nick Sheridan, and JaMarcus Shephard can help Milroe progress in that portion of his game, Alabama fans will be watching the Heisman ceremony in December hopeful for their fifth Heisman winner.

Shephard also discussed Alabama's backup quarterback, Ty Simpson, who competed in 2023 with Jalen Milroe for the starting job.

"Ty Simpson, his growth and maturation throughout the spring, he started to operate the offense and an extremely high level," Shephard said. "He’s a playmaker, honestly. He’s been a playmaker all throughout the spring, I’ve enjoyed seeing him."

Shephard did not stop with the top two signal callers on Alabama's depth chart, with high praise for Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack as well.

“Dylan Lonergan, once he got out there he got rolling. He showed he’s got natural arm ability. Then, Austin Mack, he’s a young buck, but he showed flashes throughout the entire spring that there’s going to be a time and a place for him at some point here at Alabama."

If there were any thoughts of a quarterback battle, it seems they can be put to rest for the foreseeable future. Alabama will be in good hands in 2025 if Jalen Milroe does decide to go to the NFL after the 2024 season.

“I feel like we’ve got a pretty good room there," Coach Shephard said. "Very rarely do you get to carry four quarterbacks in the room, and four lethal ones at that. I’m really excited about what that room is going to do this fall."

You can listen to the full interview of JaMarcus Shephard on Inside the Locker Room here.

Inside the Locker Room is hosted by former Alabama Basketball head coach Wimp Sanderson and former ACC/SEC assistant basketball coach Barry Sanderson every weekday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Wyatt Fulton is the Brand Manager and DME for Tide 100.9, serving as an on-air host from 11:00 a.m. to noon CT every weekday and Sports Reporter covering Alabama Football and Alabama Men's Basketball. For more coverage, follow him at @FultonW_ on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.