Alabama Football: Is Jase McClellan the X-factor?
Alabama football running back Jase McClellan entered this season with high expectations. For reasons beyond his control, the junior hasn’t gotten to play much in his Alabama career thus far.
When McClellan has been on the field, however, he has been a difference-maker. He is an effective runner who has proved to be very dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield. He also has a nose for the end zone, scoring touchdowns at an impressive rate throughout his career.
Alabama Football: A lot of promise
As a freshman, Jase McClellan played behind Heisman candidate Najee Harris and didn’t see the field much. He carried the ball only 23 times all season, yet amassed 245 yards which was good for third on the team. McClellan looked very explosive in his limited role, averaging 10.7 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns.
As a result, he entered his sophomore campaign with a lot of hype. He began the year as a big part of the offense, but only played in five games before being lost for the season with an injury. For the year, McClellan ran 40 times for 191 yards (4.8 YPC) and a touchdown.
His true value, however, was in his receiving out of the backfield. McClellan was a very opportunistic pass catcher, particularly in the red zone. The sophomore caught 10 passes for 97 yards in his five appearances in 2021. These look like relatively mundane numbers, but he also had three touchdown receptions. Assuming McClellan would’ve continued that production if he stayed healthy, the running back would’ve approached double-digit receiving touchdowns.
Alabama Football: Impact of McClellan’s absence
After Jase McClellan went down, Alabama periodically struggled to convert red zone opportunities into touchdowns for the remainder of the season. It lost its next game to Texas A&M, haunted by four red zone chances that yielded only nine points. A player like McClellan probably would’ve made all the difference in that game.
Later, in the Iron Bowl, the red zone struggles reared their heads once again. The Tide were forced to settle for a field goal and had a turnover on downs in the second half of the game. The red zone offense performed well enough in overtime to secure the victory, but it sputtered in regulation.
Finally, the Alabama offense could not capitalize on scoring opportunities in the national championship game. Before scoring its first touchdown, Alabama got inside the Georgia 30-yard line five times and totaled only 12 points, settling for field goal attempts on each trip. This included three red zone appearances, and two trips inside the ten.
Alabama Football: Not missing a beat
In the 2022 season opener for Alabama football, Jase McClellan returned from injury and immediately resumed his role from the previous year. He ran only five times for 23 yards, but he caught two passes for 25 yards and two touchdowns. He first leaked out of the backfield and found himself unguarded, reeling in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young just before halftime. Later in the contest, he caught a 17-yard score from Jalen Milroe on a screen pass.
Jase McClellan’s versatility may prove to be an X-factor for the Alabama offense in 2022. He and Jahmyr Gibbs are matchup nightmares, and combine to form the nation’s best pass-catching running back duo.
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Alabama football fans should appreciate McClellan’s ability to help the Tide convert red zone opportunities into touchdowns this year.