Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was at his third football camp in as many days Sunday after stops in Huntsville and Birmingham — but he didn’t seem to mind.
After all, when nearly 400 kids showed up at UMS-Wright to participate, Milroe felt the busy schedule is worthwhile.
“This is a dream come true,” Milroe said. “I’ve been wanting to do camps like this for a long time.”
Milroe is hoping for another playoff berth this season thanks to a strong recruiting year by new Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer.
“The biggest thing is to learn from it,” he said of the loss to Michigan in last season’s national semifinals. “All we can focus on is the 2024 football team and setting goals we all want to accomplish. With that, we’ll take leadership from the ground up and we have that with coach DeBoer leading the system.”
Milroe said he is pleased with DeBoer and his impact on the Tide program.
“It’s been a great transition to see everything fall into place the way it is,” he said. “Coach DeBoer has done a really good job with his leadership and instilling principles and values as part of the organization. … You’ve got to keep building with great (recruiting) classes and that’s what we’re doing as much as possible. It starts from the ground up and coach DeBoer has offered the leadership that’s blooming.”
Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class includes former Saraland star wide receiver Ryan Williams and former Mobile Christian and Spanish Fort linebacker Sterling Dixon.
Milroe said he and Williams have worked out and he’s pleased to have the state’s only two-time Mr. Football in his arsenal.
“He’s a great player and having him coming in during the summertime is all about building chemistry and getting to know him and that’s been a great thing so far,” Milroe said. “He’s constantly getting better and with the leadership in the room, it’s going to make him better.”
For the 2025 cycle, Alabama is No. 2 nationally in the 247Sports composite team ranking with five five-star commitments and its 94.44 average recruit rating in the best in the country.
Included in the 2025 class of commitments is Theodore offensive tackle Micah DeBose, who transferred from Vigor.
“It’s all about recruiting great players and some great people,” Milroe said. “With all those guys, they’re great dudes and I appreciate who they are as persons. When you’re playing football, you meet a lot of great people and to have that opportunity is outstanding.”
UMS-Wright coach Terry Curtis said Milroe made a positive impression on those who attended Sunday’s camp.
“Jalen is such a great guy and getting to talk to him, you can tell why he has turned out the way he has because of his parents and sister and everyone else involved with him,” Curtis said. “To have somebody of that character that these kids can look up to is always a good thing and being the quarterback at Alabama doesn’t hurt either.
“It’s great when you have somebody of his magnitude who can come to Mobile and run a kids camp. They can’t wait to get his picture and have a great time, especially with the heat like it is. For him to give of his time and have so much energy, it’s a good thing.”
