Jalen Milroe is a fourth-year junior who has patiently waited for his chance to start, while Ryan Williams is a 17-year-old freshman who has quickly become a star.
Together, they have created one of the most exciting passing duos in the nation for the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Not even No. 5 Georgia could contain them during Alabama’s 41-34 victory on Saturday night.
“That man’s always making a play on the ball,” Milroe said about Williams. “I just have so much trust in him. When he’s out at receiver, he’s going to do something special with the football.”
Both players are having remarkable seasons. Williams and Milroe combine speed, skill, and moves that would impress most running backs. Milroe has also become one of college football’s best passers.
He had what might be his best game yet, throwing for a career-high 374 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 117 yards and two more touchdowns against a team known for its strong defense.
He made history by being the first player in the AP poll era to throw for over 300 yards, run for over 100 yards, and score two rushing touchdowns against a top-5 team.
His only interception this season happened when a defender knocked the ball out of a receiver’s hands.
After this performance, Milroe is now seen as a favorite for the Heisman Trophy, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and he received AP’s national player of the week honors for the second time. His next challenge is a game against Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Milroe’s eight rushing touchdowns—two in each game—are tied for the most among quarterbacks in the country this season with Navy’s Blake Horvath.
“Man, he’s a weapon out there,” said Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. “And he’s doing it both through the air and with his feet. He’s tough to gameplan against when you’re on the other side.”
Then there’s Williams, DeBoer’s most important recruit. He made six catches for 177 yards and a touchdown against Georgia. He caught a 75-yard pass for the go-ahead touchdown late in the game, spinning past two defenders who ended up running into each other.
That was just one of his impressive plays for the freshman from Saraland (Alabama) High School.
Earlier in the game, he bobbled the ball at least twice before catching it out of the air, then quickly spun around to complete a 54-yard gain.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart described the tough challenge of trying to stop the Milroe-Williams duo when he spoke to ESPN before the game. Milroe’s running skills make it hard to focus on just Williams.
“I said we can’t do anything special for Ryan Williams,” Smart, a former Alabama defensive coordinator, said afterward. “They got a guy back there at quarterback that could be the best running back in the country, and he throws the ball. You can’t put two people on Ryan Williams, you can’t do it.”
Williams has been Alabama’s leading receiver in all four games. He has 16 catches for 462 yards and five touchdowns after deciding to enter college a year early.
Williams shared that the season feels like a dream he doesn’t want to end. “I like the dream,” he said.
Milroe, on the other hand, had to wait two years at Alabama before he got his chance last season. He ended up leading the Tide to the Southeastern Conference championship after being benched early and has come back stronger than ever.
Milroe’s passer rating of 204.7 is second only to No. 12 Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart in the FBS. Two plays against the Bulldogs highlighted his ability as a dual-threat quarterback.
Milroe shook off Georgia star safety Malaki Starks in the backfield before dashing 36 yards for a touchdown on fourth down in the second quarter. His best throw may have been on a wheel route to running back Jam Miller for another touchdown.
Milroe threw the ball perfectly to Miller, who was well covered.
“Guys don’t always have to be wide open right now,” DeBoer said. “You saw him throwing guys open, and you saw receivers anticipating that and thinking, ‘Hey, I’m going to get the ball.’ That’s progress in our passing game. If we keep doing that, we’re going to be tough to defend.”
