Kalen DeBoer makes his thoughts clear about Jalen Milroe's progress at Alabama following Nick Saban's exit

Nick Saban's retirement was a shock for college football fans, and many were left worried about the program's future after the seven-time national champ's exit.

Many players like Amari NiBlack, Caleb Downs and Isaiah Bond decided to jump ship and entered the transfer portal after Saban's retirement annoucement. However, Alabama QB Jalen Milroe stepped up as the Crimson Tide's leader both on field and in the locker room.

Jalen Milroe is among the top contenders to win the Heisman Trophy in 2024 and will face the spotlight to carry the Crimson Tide to the playoffs under new coach Kalen DeBoer.

Following Day 4 at Alabama's fall camp, DeBoer couldn't stop raving about Jalen Milroe's progress this year, which translated on the field during practice:

"Really, the way he's intentional about coming out," DeBoer said following the Crimson Tide's fourth practice. "You know, even not what you say but how you do things, what your body language is."

"He gets that, that's important, but he's actually just really just leading that way and then it leads to him playing well and the other guys following suit. Today, he came out again, really he threw the deep ball probably as well as I've seen him throw. That's a lot of guys and the timing, his rhythm and all of that coming into play. He's getting more comfortable."

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Why did Nick Saban retire?

During his 17-year tenure at Alabama, Nick Saban made the program one of the best in the nation. He won seven national championships and nine SEC titles, produced over 133 NFL draft picks and also helped players secure four Heisman trophies.

However, following Alabama's disappointing national championship loss to Jim Harbaugh's Michigan, Saban felt disappointed with the way players acted and decided to hang his boots on Jan. 10, 2024.

In an interview with ESPN, Saban talked about the factors that contributed to his decision to retire:

“I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I’m going to play because they’re thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?.”

Fans will be interested to hear Nick Saban's insight in his new role as an analyst on ESPN College gameday in 2024 college football season.