Mel Kiper: Alabama's Jalen Milroe Has Lamar Jackson Traits, 'Glides When He Runs'

Amid a fantastic start to the 2024 season, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is doing a lot to improve his NFL draft stock.

On the latest episode of the First Draft podcast (starts at 4:15 mark), ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. noted Milroe "glides when he runs" in a way that reminds him of Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson.

Jackson was one of the best dual-threat players in college football history during his three years at Louisville. He ran for 4,132 yards and 50 touchdowns in 38 games from 2015 to '17.

That running ability has carried over to the NFL. Jackson has averaged 787 rushing yards in his professional career, including back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 yards in 2019 and 2020.

Kiper also praised Milroe for having high character, "wanting to be great" and being "willing to take coaching," but he admitted to not being totally sold on the 21-year-old as a top-tier draft prospect at this point.

In his latest rankings posted on Thursday, Kiper has Milroe as the No. 5 quarterback in the 2025 class. He is behind Shedeur Sanders, Carson Beck, Quinn Ewers and Cam Ward.

Saturday will mark a great opportunity for Milroe to move up that list when Alabama hosts No. 2 Georgia. He played well against the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game last December, going 13-of-23 for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 win.

This game will also be the biggest test of the young season for the Crimson Tide. Their first three games were against Western Kentucky, South Florida and Wisconsin.

Milroe has thrown for 590 yards, run for 156 yards and accounted for 14 touchdowns with no turnovers in those three victories.