Jalen Milroe stats 2023: How Alabama QB turned season around after benching

Alongside fellow SEC quarterback Brady Cook, Alabama's Jalen Milroe may be one of the nation's most improved players for the 2023 season.

Milroe caught plenty of flack from analysts and the Crimson Tide fan base alike when he was lackluster overall when called upon in the place of an injured Bryce Young in 2022 and he struggled at points early on in the 2023 season.

But Milroe has since gotten into rhythm that has him on the path to be among the best NCAA quarterbacks in 2024.

MORE: College football transfer portal QB tracker

Jalen Milroe stats 2023

The Alabama signal-caller started the season off with some inconsistency, regularly showing what he could do with his legs while sometimes faltering as a pure passer. Nick Saban even went so far as to bench him ahead of the game against South Florida before quickly coming to the conclusion that was not the answer to Alabama's woes.

Milrow has upped that part of his game in a big way, though, serving as a primary factor in the success the Alabama offense has found.

Milroe took some time to self-reflect and figure out where he could get better when the decision was made to bench him.

“It wasn’t just me. It was this whole team that everybody kicked to the side,” Milroe said in an interview with ESPN's Chris Low. “But I also knew that if we were going to get to where we all wanted to get to, I had to play to a different standard. I had to look in the mirror and say, ‘How can I improve? How can I get better?’ And not just so I could win the position back. It wasn’t about me. It was about being there for everybody else around me, being the best version of me.”

He has a chance to make a huge statement as the Crimson Tide face Georgia on Saturday -- a win for Alabama could mean some major shake up in the College Football Playoff race and could make things interesting last-minute in the Heisman Trophy race.

Jalen Milroe Heisman Trophy odds

Though Milroe has made a strong push, it's looking like the Heisman Trophy race is going to come down to Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. 

According to BetMGM, Milroe is tied for fifth place in the race next to Georgia quarterback Carson Beck at +150000.

Here's a look at the top five frontunners for the award.