Nick Saban provides latest injury update on Jase McClellan

Alabama head coach confirmed on Monday that running back Jase McClellan will miss the remainder of the 2021 season due to a knee injury. McClellan is set to undergo surgery on Tuesday after suffering the injury in Saturday’s victory over Ole Miss.

As a freshman last season, McClellan rushed for 245 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, averaging 10.7 yards per rush. This season, McClellan has had a role behind starter Brian Robinson. Before suffering his injury on Saturday, McClellan had 191 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries, adding 10 receptions for 97 yards and three scores.

“Jace has got a knee (injury), he’ll be out for the year” Saban said of McClellan on Monday morning. “He’s going to have surgery tomorrow, so he’s out.”

McClellan was a consensus four star prospect out of high school and was one of the best running backs in his class. In his high school career, he had 6,468 yards on 842 carries with 122 touchdowns, adding 28 receptions for 429 yards and three scores at Aledo High School in Texas.

Additionally, Saban told reporters that freshman running back Camar Wheaton is now week-to-week. Wheaton suffered a meniscus injury in the offseason.

“He’s not been cleared medically to practice at this point,” Saban said of Wheaton.

Alabama starting RB Brian Robinson on impact of losing McClellan

Before going down with his injury, McClellan had 28 yards on six rushing attempts. He also had an 11-yard reception. Once McClellan went down, Brian Robinson got the ball even more on Alabama’s offense. Robinson had a monster day, rushing for 171 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries.

After the game, Robinson praised McClellan, saying that he has been a great contributor to Alabama’s offense.

“Jase has been contributing great to our offense,” Robinson stated. “He’s been doing a great job just playing a key role, playing his role to the best of his ability. Just talking to him after the game, just making sure he’s staying positive or whatever the situation may be. It’s our job to stay beside him and just keep him up and keep him motivated so that he can make a great return when he [does] come back.”