Jalen Milroe has at least one more game with Alabama football before making a decision about the NFL Draft following the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan. Should he declare, Milroe is projected as an early draft pick.
This would mean he wouldn’t have the opportunity to play alongside five-star signee Keelon Russell at Alabama. Nevertheless, Milroe, a fellow Texan, shared encouraging words about the talented recruit.
“I enjoy being around him,” Milroe said of Russell “I’ve been able to meet him a couple times here at the facility and at the stadium. Cool cat. Every single time I get to talk to him I like to pour into him, because that’s the biggest thing, just being able to talk to a guy that’s been in the process before. That’s something I try to do for him is give him my knowledge, since I’ve been here and pour into him.”
Keelon Russell, a five-star recruit and the Gatorade National Player of the Year, signed with Alabama after flipping his commitment from SMU. Ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class by 247Sports composite rankings, Russell has drawn significant praise.
“He’s a special cat,” said Jalen Milroe. “There’s a reason he’s the No. 1 quarterback in Texas and one of the best in the country. He’s a big-time recruit because of who he is as a person.”
Milroe, a redshirt junior, also expressed pride in their shared Texas roots.
“He’s a Texas kid, I’m a Texas kid,” Milroe added. “It’s going to be awesome having another Texas guy in the building. I know he’ll be coached at the highest level by coach (Nick) Sheridan and coach (Kalen) DeBoer. He’s in good hands here.”
Alabama will conclude their season against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. CT in Tampa, with the game broadcast live on ESPN.
