Happy Thursday, everyone. The NFL Draft is tonight and two Alabama players, Tyler Booker and Jihaad Campbell, are expected to go in the first round. But it’s Jalen Milroe that everyone wants to talk and write about.
The report quotes an anonymous coordinator in the AFC, who claimed that Milroe’s departure prevented a transfer portal exodus in Tuscaloosa.
“He’s a 22 mph-on-the-ground guy,” the coach said according to the report. “He’s got a fastball that’s not very accurate. He doesn’t know when to take it off the ball. We heard out of Alabama all the skill [players] would’ve transferred if he came back. He wants to be known as a pocket quarterback and your best skill is you’re frickin’ fast.”
According to CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, the five best fits for Milroe’s landing spot include: Miami Dolphins (48th pick), Seattle Seahawks (50th pick), New York Jets (42nd pick), New Orleans Saints (40th pick) and Pittsburgh Steelers (52nd pick).
If Milroe was selected by the Dolphins, Seahawks or the Jets, he would begin his career as a backup, with a chance to play in case of an injury, to Tua Tagovailoa, Sam Darnold or Justin Fields, respectively. The Steelers and Saints would allow him an opportunity to start, depending on other offseason moves.
We will never know if the blurb about “all the skill players” transferring was true or not. Jalen certainly showed some limitations as a passer that he will need to overcome at the next level if he is to ever become a starting QB. Throwing him into the fire as a rookie seems like a disastrous idea.
Kalen DeBoer added a blocking tight end from West Virginia.
The upcoming sophomore entered the portal after spring football ended for West Virginia. He was recruited by the former staff, led by head coach Neal Brown, who was fired before WVU hired Rich Rodriguez from Jacksonville State.
“After a lot of thought, prayer and conversations with my family, I’ve decided to enter my name into the NCAA transfer portal,” Sammarco said in a statement announcing his departure from Morgantown. “WVU will always have a special place in my heart, and I appreciate everything this program and facebase have done for me.”
Alabama needed another body, another scholarship player that could be a go-to inline blocker in the run game in a room ravaged by injuries, a room that had only one scholarship player available at the end of spring.
Alabama needed a player of Sammarco’s size and Sammarco’s skillset, standing at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. And Sammarco quickly saw he fit the bill.
“I’m a pretty physical blocker,” Sammarco told The Tuscaloosa News.
Sammarco was sold, committing to Alabama after one season at West Virginia. The Cincinnati native appeared in each of the Mountaineers’ games. On offense, his primary role was that inline blocking tight end Alabama needed, recording one catch for four yards last season.
Last, the House settlement seems close to a resolution. The judge has indicated that she will give it final approval under one condition: the 105 roster limit cannot cause any current players to lose their spots.
“The Court will delay denial of final approval to permit the parties to attempt to modify the settlement agreement,” she wrote, “so that members of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Class will not be harmed by the immediate implementation of the roster limits provisions.”
Perhaps, attorneys banked on the settlement’s sheer numbers — more than 88,000 claims made to just 600 opt-outs/objections — in convincing the judge to approve the deal.
Now, she is offering them an ultimatum: Change the roster limits as I originally asked or have your precious settlement denied.
“We are playing chicken with a damn federal judge,” said one high-ranking college leader.
We’ll see where it goes.
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
