Alabama's Jalen Milroe has emerged as complete quarterback, leader - ESPN

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Before he ever played a game under Alabama's new coaching regime, Jalen Milroe said this preseason that he felt as relaxed, prepared and empowered as he has as a quarterback.

«Even going back to high school. I feel free to be me out there,» Milroe told ESPN.

It's one thing to make such a proclamation. It's another to deliver, and Milroe has done that repeatedly for the Crimson Tide through four games, most recently with a dazzling performance Saturday night in a thrilling 41-34 win over then-No. 2 Georgia to vault Alabama to No. 1 in the latest AP poll.

Milroe passed for 374 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 75-yard toss to Ryan Williams, and rushed for 117 yards and two more touchdowns. In all four games this season, he has passed for at least two touchdowns and rushed for at least two touchdowns. He has completed 72.9% of his passes with just one interception and is second nationally with a 204.7 passer rating.

«He was, I think, exceptional,» Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said of his redshirt junior quarterback. «I didn't want to jump the gun, but I just really felt like that the last couple of weeks, and it started with the Wisconsin game, where he got into a little bit of rhythm and made those plays.… It doesn't mean he's perfect, but man, he's a weapon out there and he's doing it both through the air and with his feet.»

DeBoer isn't the only one who feels that way.

Milroe is quickly moving up NFL teams' draft boards, and while the calendar is just now flipping to October, he has also placed himself at the forefront of the Heisman Trophy conversation.

«He's always been a dynamic athlete, but he's grown as a quarterback under this staff,» one NFL scout told ESPN. «He looks more