Milroe, a December graduate at Tompkins, is taking advantage of the opportunity to be with the Tide for Spring Practice. A three-year starter at quarterback for the Falcons, Jalen is part of Bama’s #1 ranked 2021 recruiting class. He knows the competition for playing time in Tuscaloosa will be stiff, “Playing against the best of the best will make you better. You learn a lot about yourself. It pushes you to be better.” Tompkins Head Coach Todd McVey has watch Jalen grow each year. “Jalen is competitive. There’s no doubt he’ll be successful.”
Milroe took over as quarterback his sophomore year at Tompkins, a learning experience but he saw right away that team chemistry needed to be built. The beginning steps of the leader Milroe would become were taken. “We had to figure out who we were. We started eating together, working out together, building that chemistry.” The Falcons would go 10 and 3 that season and advance to the 3rd round of the playoffs. Coach McVey could see a difference in Jalen, “He grew up a lot and got used to the speed of the game. He came into his own his sophomore year.”
Jalen would lead the Falcons to an 11 and 2 record as a junior and again to the 3rd round of the playoffs but they hadn’t gotten over the hump yet. The Katy Tigers and their 12 straight district titles were that hump. “We set goals and challenged each other in practice, the weight room, film room. I saw it in the guys eyes that we were locked in.” Tompkins would get over the hump with a 24-19 victory over Katy and go on to capture the Falcons first district championship this past season. A championship coming in this crazy Covid year with no off season and with Jalen the only offensive starter coming back was very special. The Falcons had new starting receivers and a new offensive line but Jalen’s play and leadership helped the team grow into District Champs. Jalen said “It’s all about being better than the day before, staying committed to the grind and always looking for something to improve on”.
Milroe finishes with a 31 and 6 Tompkins record and calls his time with the Falcons a brotherhood. He is now on to Bama and new brothers. Bringing with him the leadership and talent that the Tide will love.
