Position Preview: 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide Quarterbacks — Depth, Talent, and a New Era Under Center
As the 2025 college football season approaches, the Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback room finds itself at the heart of renewed championship hopes — not with a clear-cut Heisman frontrunner, but with depth, versatility, and rising leadership. After an offseason of strategic development and competitive camp battles, head coach Kalen DeBoer, entering his second year in Tuscaloosa, has positioned the Tide’s QB corps as one of the most intriguing in the SEC.
🔥 QB1: Jalen Milroe Returns for Redemption
Senior Jalen Milroe, the dynamic dual-threat quarterback who started the majority of games in 2023 and rotated in 2024, is expected to begin the 2025 season as the presumptive starter. Milroe’s decision to return for one final year surprised some analysts, but his offseason work ethic has silenced doubts.
Milroe has focused on improving his timing, mid-range accuracy, and pocket awareness — areas of inconsistency that defined much of his previous seasons. His explosive speed and physical toughness remain elite, and reports from spring practices suggest his chemistry with Alabama’s retooled receiver corps has clicked.
> “This is a different Jalen,” DeBoer told reporters in June. “He’s playing like a veteran. He’s seeing the game slower — and attacking with intent.”
🚀 The Next Wave: Julian Sayin and Austin Mack
Behind Milroe, redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, a five-star recruit from the 2024 class, is the future — and he’s pushing for playing time now. Sayin has dazzled in scrimmages with his poise and crisp mechanics. Though still developing the physicality to endure SEC hits, his decision-making and field vision have drawn comparisons to past Tide greats like Tua Tagovailoa and Bryce Young.
Also in the mix is early enrollee Austin Mack, a 6’6” gunslinger from California’s Bay Area. The strong-armed freshman was a surprise breakout during summer 7-on-7s, consistently showcasing deep-ball touch and pocket presence well beyond his age.
Don’t be surprised if Alabama uses select packages to get both Sayin and Mack game reps early in the season, especially in non-conference matchups.
🧠 Quarterback Culture & Coaching Continuity
Quarterback coach Nick Sheridan, retained from DeBoer’s Washington staff, is instrumental in building a system that supports aggressive downfield play while demanding disciplined reads. The QB room has become a place of mentorship and growth — with Milroe embracing his role as a teacher to Sayin and Mack, a key sign of program health.
> “We’re not just building starters,” Sheridan explained in spring camp. “We’re building quarterbacks who can win games in December and January.”
💡 Outlook: Loaded with Options, Primed for a Title Push
With Milroe’s athleticism and leadership, Sayin’s high ceiling, and Mack’s natural arm talent, Alabama enters the 2025 season with more than just a starter — they have a quarterback unit built for sustained dominance.
The offense will be fast, creative, and balanced, offering DeBoer the flexibility to adapt to opposing defenses and rely on a QB rotation if necessary. In the loaded SEC landscape, Alabama’s quarterback room might be the deciding edge in reclaiming the national spotlight.
Bottom line: The Tide’s quarterback position isn’t just stable — it’s quietly become one of the most exciting storylines in college football.
