Jase McClellan spent all four seasons with the Crimson Tide, trying to break through the well-stocked backfield. As a freshman, he was behind Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.. He gained steam to start his junior season with Harris gone and Robinson sharing the load but tore his ACL after five games.
When he returned for his junior season, he was second only to Jahmyr Gibbs and ended that year on a higher note with a string of 12+ carry games including 156 yards and two scores against Austin Peay. He finally led the backfield as a senior in 2023 when he ran for 890 yards and gained 137 yards as a receiver. He was still a part of a committee with his 180 rushes, along with Roydell Williams (111). Quarterback Jalen Milroe also ran the ball 161 times.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.5 seconds
McClellan didn’t do anything to set himself apart in the NFL Combine and declined running the 40-yard dash where he was expected to turn in a 4.5-ish timing. He’s the right size for the position and carries the cachet of being from Alabama, but is expected to be picked up in the final rounds of the NFL draft by a team seeking to beef up their backfield depth with a chance of gaining a committee member.
Table: Jase McClellan NCAA stats (2020-23)
| Year | School | Games | Runs | Yards | Avg. | TD | Catch | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Alabama | 12 | 23 | 245 | 10.7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | Alabama | 5 | 40 | 191 | 4.8 | 1 | 10 | 97 | 3 |
| 2022 | Alabama | 13 | 112 | 655 | 5.8 | 7 | 14 | 174 | 3 |
| 2023 | Alabama | 13 | 180 | 890 | 4.9 | 8 | 15 | 137 | 0 |
Pros
- Determined runner that gets all the yardage that was blocked and finishes runs to pick up the extra yards
- Excellent vision combines with smart running to pick the right lanes and can cut through traffic. Good fit for a one-cut rushing scheme
- Patient runner that follows the blocks to daylight
- Capable receiver with the biggest hands among running backs at the NFL Combine
- Has the size and strength to be a power rusher that can break tackles and handle inside rushing
- Tough runner not afraid of contact
Cons
- Lacks explosiveness, more of a power runner through contact than a speed rusher looking for long gains
- Pass protection still needs work, needs more aggression as a blocker
- Work as a receiver was limited to very basic routes from the backfield
- Durability concerns after a torn ACL and other dings in college
Fantasy outlook
McClellan offers an intriguing set of skills later in the draft. As with all ‘Bama backs, assessing them is harder since they benefit from a dominant O-line and yet compete for carries against other elite backs in the ever-stocked backfield. While impacted by injuries, he had to wait for his turn as the primary until he was a senior.
He can add to any NFL roster and with an expectation of being taken sometime in Day 3, he is available to any NFL team seeking to bolster their depth. McClellan will need to work his way up the depth chart before he can offer any reliable fantasy value, but in the right situation, he can become a weekly contributor. He’s not expected to become the primary back for a team, but has enough skills and potential that he is worth tracking.
