In a thrilling matchup against SEC rival Georgia, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe showcased his talent by leading his team to a 41-34 victory, throwing for 374 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 117 yards and two additional touchdowns. His outstanding performance has catapulted him to the forefront of the Heisman trophy race.

This marks a significant turnaround for Milroe, who faced criticism last season after being benched due to two interceptions in a 34-24 defeat to Texas, leading many fans to lose faith in him.

However, following his latest performance, those same fans are likely cheering him on once more.

The 21-year-old from Katy, Texas, is thriving under the guidance of new head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Jalen Milroe shares his journey from being viewed as an enigma to becoming a promising star in a new digital series titled LANK by Jalen Milroe, supported by Beast. The series, produced by Improbable Media—co-founded by Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo and former Duke star and ESPN analyst Jay Williams—airs weekly on Milroe’s Instagram page.

In the latest episode, Milroe discusses his journey and the inspiration behind LANK, which stands for “Let All Naysayers Know.”

Milroe recounts how he attended numerous football camps before enrolling at Alabama, where he was often asked which position he played. He was eager to hear feedback from the camp coaches before revealing his ambitions to become a quarterback.

“Do you play receiver?” was one question he remembers being asked.

“No, I’m not a receiver,” he responded.

“Are you a defensive back or safety?” the inquiries continued.

Milroe consistently answered no, insisting he was only interested in playing quarterback.

“They always seem surprised when I tell them I play quarterback,” Milroe revealed.

However, sharing that he wanted to be a quarterback often led to skepticism, especially in a time when the idea of a Black quarterback was not taken seriously by many.

“Then they’d ask, ‘How’s your decision making? Are you athletic? Can you run? What’s your 40 time?’ It was clear that some doubted my ability to play the position,” Milroe said, reflecting on the biases he faced before proving them wrong.

His father, Quentin Milroe, shared insights about the judgments people made regarding his son’s potential. He pointed out that many assumed that just because Jalen was athletic, he should be playing a different position rather than giving him a chance as a quarterback.

“People tend to think, ‘Oh, you’re athletic, so you can play something else,’ rather than acknowledging his abilities until they actually see him play. Once they do, the conversation shifts completely,” noted Quentin Milroe. “It’s been a significant part of his experience as a quarterback, where they keep moving the goalposts, and he continues to meet their expectations.”

Milroe, who completed his degree in business administration in December, is having an impressive season with the Crimson Tide, boasting a completion rate of 73%, totaling 964 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and only one interception. He has also rushed for 273 yards and scored eight touchdowns, contributing to Alabama’s perfect 4-0 record.