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Nick Saban gives update on injured RB Jase McClellan

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TUSCALOOSA, ALA. — Jase McClellan is not Alabama’s starting running back. That duty belongs to Brian Robinson Jr. With that being said, no one would deny that McClellan is a critical part of the offense either.

Going into Saturday, the Aledo, Tex. native had racked up 249 total yards of offense (163 rushing, 86 receiving) in four games to go along with four touchdowns. He runs hard, plus he’s proven to be a great receiver out of the backfield.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the Crimson Tide could be without him for awhile.

During the team’s 42-21 victory over Ole Miss, McClellan appeared to suffer a lower leg injury and exited the game in the third quarter. Soon after a trip to the locker room, the former top prospect emerged on crutches, which is rarely a good sign.

Following the game, coach Nick Saban revealed that the sophomore has what is believed to be a significant knee injury. As of right now, a timetable for his return has not been established. And we won’t get a timetable until more information becomes available.

“The initial report on it is not good, but until we do an MRI, we don’t know for sure,” Saban told reporters. “But I think he’s probably going to be out for a while.”

The news is unfortunate, as McClellan and Robinson had become an effective 1-2 punch as the leading horses in Alabama’s deep stable. Now, it’ll have to be Robinson and Roydell Williams sharing the load. There also may be a sprinkle of Trey Sanders in the mix as well.

Williams can be a good No. 2 option. He proved as much in Week 4 with Robinson out against Southern Miss. Williams was handed 11 carries, which he turned into 110 yards and a touchdown.

At 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, Williams is somewhat undersized, but he runs with surprising power regardless. Plus, he’s shown above-average vision and some receiving chops.

Are Williams and Sanders going to replace everything McClellan gave the Alabama offense? Probably not, but they bring their own skill sets that Bill O’Brien can utilize.

Then it will only be a matter of figuring out how long until McClellan is back, whether that’s sometime in 2021 or beyond.

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