Alabama football is not expected to be significantly impacted by player opt-outs for the ReliaQuest Bowl. Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer stated that he anticipates quarterback Jalen Milroe and other key players will play the entire game. When asked during the head coaches’ press conference in Tampa about the possibility of Milroe and draft-eligible players playing limited snaps, DeBoer responded, “Yeah, there’s been no conversations or anything. I’d be pretty surprised. I think they’re here to win. To compete. To put the best product we can put out there on the football field for four quarters and go out there. I wouldn’t expect something like that. That’s the way these guys are. Jalen Milroe and the other guys, they’re going to go out there just like they always have been and give everything they have. They’ve shown that in practice, and I wouldn’t expect anything different.”
This contrasts with the recent situation involving Miami quarterback Cam Ward, ranked No. 2 by ESPN for the NFL draft, who only played the first half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State, a game Miami ultimately lost. Milroe, ranked No. 4 by ESPN, is expected to play a full game. Alabama will face Michigan at 11 a.m. CT on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
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Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.