Don’t sleep on Alabama senior running back Jase McClellan this year. The fourth year back was heavily underutilized last season and is poised for a stand-out year. Aren’t most seniors you ask? Yes, however Jace has some unintended added motivation. And that’s incoming freshman running back Justice Haynes.
Justice Haynes was the number two running back recruit in the class of 2023 according to ESPN’s high school recruiting rankings. Haynes played his high school football at Buford High School in Buford, Georgia at the 7A level, which is the highest division in the state of Georgia for high school athletics. During his high school career, Haynes was a four-year starter on varsity where he ran for 7,407 yards and ninety-one touchdowns.
McClellan was no slouch either however, and he is going into his fourth season at Alabama. During his time in high school in Aledo, Texas, McClellan ran for 5,289 yards and 104 touchdowns. McClellan started his sophomore, junior and senior years only and played in only twenty-three games, while Haynes played in thirty-three in his final three years.
Alabama’s Featured Running Back: Jase McClellan
The fact that McClellan was underutilized last season has left him off of the radar for many and centered the focus on incoming first-year student, Haynes. In reality, Haynes is competing with other upperclassmen in the running back room at Alabama in Roydell Williams and Jamarion Miller who currently sit ahead of him on the projected depth chart. So, you can argue that all three that were on the team last year in Williams, Miller and McClellan are not being talked about because they were all underutilized. And therefore, the conversation and hype has been surrounding Haynes. This bodes well for an underdog breakout season for McClellan who will be motivated to take the reigns during his senior season with the Crimson Tide.
On October 2nd, 2021, McClellan tore his ACL against the Ole Miss Rebels that left him out for the remainder of the season. Last season saw McClellan return less than a year after his injury where he ran for 655 yards and seven touchdowns on one hundred twelve carries. Another full year of recovery from the ACL is another factor that is not being considered that you could see an even bigger, stronger, and more confident McClellan this year.
As much as they are teammates, McClellan has heard the hype about the incoming 2023 running backs – namely Justice Haynes. And despite what may be said to the public, do not think a guy like McClellan is not using this for motivation to breakout this season. Look for Jase McClellan to assert himself as the clear number one option in the backfield for the Tide as he helps guide them to try and claim another SEC and national title this season.