Prior to the NFL Draft, an anonymous league coordinator claimed that Alabama would have seen a mass exodus of wide receivers to the transfer portal if quarterback Jalen Milroe had returned. However, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer dismissed the claim, pushing back on the idea and labeling the rumor as exaggerated or inaccurate.
Just before the NFL Draft, an anonymous NFL coordinator claimed that all of Alabama’s skill players would have entered the transfer portal if quarterback Jalen Milroe had returned for his final year.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed that assertion during an interview with Seattle’s 93.3 KJR on Monday, calling it “far-fetched.”
“I think I saw that quote, and the word ‘all’ was used. Anytime I hear absolutes like ‘never,’ ‘always,’ or ‘all,’ I immediately question it,” DeBoer said. “I don’t think we would’ve lost all our receivers under any circumstance.”
Although Alabama did see six receivers depart in the winter transfer window, DeBoer and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shepherd were behind a broader retooling effort. The outgoing group included underperforming players like Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice, while the incoming class featured promising additions like Miami transfer Isaiah Horton and several freshmen recruited by Shepherd.
Alabama’s wide receiver talent had declined in recent years following the end of the “Ryde Out” era, with former position coach Holmon Wiggins (now at Texas A&M) missing on key evaluations. Shepherd, on the other hand, seems to have upgraded the group quickly. Washington transfer Germie Bernard has emerged as the No. 2 receiver behind Ryan Williams, and freshman Lotzeir Brooks could be an instant contributor despite flying under the radar during recruiting.
DeBoer also spoke about Milroe’s potential, saying he believes the quarterback would have shown major improvement in his second year under Alabama’s new offensive system. Despite inconsistency last season, Milroe showed flashes of elite talent — particularly in dominant wins over Georgia and LSU — though he struggled in losses to Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Michigan.
Now a third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, Milroe has a legitimate shot at becoming a successful NFL quarterback, according to DeBoer. The coach noted that, just as Michael Penix Jr. developed significantly from year one to year two under DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Milroe likely would have made a similar leap.
Ultimately, both sides seem content with how things turned out — Milroe gets his NFL opportunity, and DeBoer has the chance to build around a quarterback of his own choosing without worrying about roster fallout.
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