Nick Saban provides injury update on former four-star RB Camar Wheaton

Following the news that Alabama running back Jase McClellan will be out for the remainder of the season, Nick Saban was asked of the status of freshman running back Camar Wheaton.

“He hasn’t practiced,” Saban said. “He had a meniscus or whatever, so he’s kind of week-to-week. But he’s not been cleared medically to practice at this point.”

Camar Wheaton has yet to play this season. The freshman enrolled at Alabama in the summer as the sole running back in the 2021 recruiting class.

Coming out of high school, Wheaton was rated as a four-star prospect on the 2021 On300 rankings as the No. 81 prospect in the country and the fourth running back in the country. Wheaton had his senior season cut short by COVID-19 but rushed for 603 yards and eight touchdowns on 71 attempts. In his high school career, Camar Wheaton rushed for 3,731 yards and 48 touchdowns.

With Wheaton week-to-week, Alabama is down to three running backs in Brian Robinson Jr, Trey Sanders and Roydell Williams.

Robinson has been the Crimson Tide’s go-to back this season, rushing for 379 yards and six touchdowns on 73 touches, with another touchdown through the air.

Prior to his injury, McClellan rushed for 191 yards and one touchdown along with 97 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

In Alabama’s 42-21 win over Ole Miss, McClellan exited the game with a knee injury and was spotted on crutches in the fourth quarter. After the game, Saban had said the initial report on McClellan’s knee injury was “not good” and that McClellan was “probably going to be out for a while.”

With McClellan out, Robinson got the ball even more on Alabama’s offense. The starter finished with 171 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries against the Rebels.

Robinson was complimentary of his backfield mate following the injury.

“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.”

Saban confirmed on Monday that McClellan would be out for the season.

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