Nick Saban provides positive update on Jase McClellan ahead of Rose Bowl
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided a positive update on running back Jase McClellan, who missed the SEC Championship Game due to a foot injury.
“Jase is doing great,” Saban said Wednesday. “He practiced yesterday and today. He looks good. We gave him a lot of time off to try to heal his foot, and it seems like it’s paid off.”
Does Saban expect McClellan to play in the Rose Bowl against No. 1 Michigan?
“(Barring) some setback and the way he’s practiced, I don’t see why he couldn’t play in the game,” the head coach said.
In Alabama’s win over Auburn to conclude the regular season, McClellan “tweaked” a foot injury he has dealt with all season, Saban said, which led the senior to miss the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. McClellan was in uniform for pregame warmups and fielded kickoffs but watched most of the drills before sporting street clothes for the game.
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McClellan rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries and caught an 8-yard pass in the Iron Bowl before his exit in the fourth quarter. The senior running back is Alabama’s leading rusher this season with 803 yards and six touchdowns on 166 carries (4.84 ypc). He also leads the Tide running back room with 13 catches for 126 yards through 12 regular-season games.
Alabama senior Roydell Williams earned his first start at running back against the Bulldogs and finished the game as the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher with 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Jam Miller rose into the No. 2 tailback role and saw nine handoffs for 23 yards. But based on Saban’s Wednesday comments, UA will get its leading rusher back.
Alabama will practice again on Thursday, Dec. 28, at Dignity Health Sports Park.
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