Jase McClellan has played his final game for the Alabama Crimson Tide, having declared for the NFL Draft.
The former Aledo Bearcat made a mark on the Crimson Tide during his four seasons with the program under now retired coach Nick Saban.
Participating ever since he was a true freshman, McClellan helped Alabama win a national championship in 2020, finish as runner-up in 2021 and reach the College Football Playoff again this season.
In fact, in the 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the semifinals at the Rose Bowl, McClellan led all rushers. He gained 87 yards on 14 carries and scored both of Alabama's touchdowns, the first on a 34-yard run for a 7-0 lead and the second from 3 yards out for a 17-13 advantage.
McClellan also caught two passes for 11 yards against the Wolverines.
Officials with the Alabama football program said McClellan wasn't available for interviews as he contemplated his future. However, he wrote in an Instagram post, “Thank you, Bama Nation, for all your support and forever ‘Roll Tide’!”
McClellan had the option to return to the Crimson Tide as a graduate student or he could have chosen to transfer to another program.
He also posted, “To Coach Saban, thank you for allowing me to live out my dreams at this amazing place. Thank you for providing me with an opportunity to play at Alabama, for always believing in me during my time here and, most importantly, for helping to make me the man that I am today.”
Saban announced his retirement from coaching after leaving Alabama to six national championships in his 17 seasons at the helm. He also won a national championship at LSU in 2003.
The website Sportskeeda.com projects McClellan to be a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick should he decide to enter the NFL Draft.
He was an honorable mention All-SEC selection in 2023.
McClellan solidified his starting position as a senior at Alabama this season. He led the team in rushing with 180 carries for 890 yards and eight touchdowns. His longest run of the season was his Rose Bowl TD.
He also caught 15 passes for 137 yards with a long reception of 42 yards.
McClellan played in 13 of the Tide's 14 games this season. He missed the 27-24 victory against Georgia that sealed the Southeastern Conference championship for Alabama with a re-aggravated foot injury.
McClellan's best game of the season was 27 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown in a 34-20 home victory against Tennessee. He also rushed for 105 yards and a TD on 17 carries in a come-from-behind 24-10 home win over Ole Miss that started the Crimson Tide's turnaround on the season.
McClellan was a solid contributor to the Alabama legacy. In his four seasons the Crimson Tide went 49-6, which included a 13-0 record and national championship in 2020.
Also, the only two losses for Georgia (42-2) in the past three seasons have come at the hands of Alabama, in the 2021 SEC title game and again this season in the SEC final to end a 29-game winning streak.
McClellan's career has included 44 games played, 355 carries, 1,981 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Of those, 1,545 yards and 15 TD have come on 292 carries over the past two seasons.
McClellan has two runs of 80 yards or more. He had an 80-yard touchdown late in the game against Arkansas as a freshman and an 81-yard TD against Texas as a junior.
He also caught 40 passes for 409 yards and six touchdowns, including a long reception of 65 yards.
As a sophomore, he recorded three touchdowns in three different ways against Mercer, the first Bama player to do so since 2013. On special teams, he picked up a blocked punt and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, rushed for a TD and caught a TD pass.
That same season, in his first career start for the Tide he rushed 12 times for 97 yards and caught a 9-yard touchdown. His season was cut short after five games due to an injury.
He returned as a sophomore to rush for 655 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns.
Along with McClellan, the area was well-represented by football players whose teams advanced to a bowl game at the NCAA Division I level.
Texas Tech: Baylor Cupp, Brock, tight end, senior, 11 catches, 114 yards, 2 TD. Defeated Cal 34-14 in the Independence Bowl to finish 7-6. Honorable mention All-Big 12. In two season he has 23 catches, 246 yards and four touchdowns after transferring from Texas A&M. Also on roster, Jurrien Lofton, Aledo, offensive lineman, freshman; Luke Dillingham, Brock, defensive back, sophomore.
Utah: Money Parks, Aledo, wide receiver, junior, 31 catches, 293 yards, two TD. Second on the team in catches and yards. Lost Las Vegas Bowl to Northwestern, 17-14 to finish 8-5. In his career he has 58 catches for 719 yards and five TD. He has caught at least one pass in 23 straight games.
Minnesota: Nathan Jones, Brock, tight end, freshman, played one game. Defeated Bowling Green 30-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl for a 6-7 season. Academic All-Big 10.
Oklahoma State: Jalen Pope, Aledo, wide receiver, freshman, played in one game. Defeated Texas A&M 31-23 in the Tax Act Texas Bowl for a 10-4 season.
Oklahoma: Jason Llewellyn, Aledo, tight end, sophomore, played in three games, mostly on special teams. Gunnar Allen, Aledo, offensive lineman, freshman, played one game. Lost Alamo Bowl to Arizona, 38-24, to finish 10-3.
Georgia: Cash Jones, Brock, running back, sophomore, played in all 14 games for the 13-1 Bulldogs. He rushed 22 times for 161 yards and a touchdown, with a long run of 57 yards. He also caught 11 passes for 92 yards and a TD. In the past two seasons he has played in 25 of 29 games.
Texas: BJ Allen, Aledo, defensive back, freshman, played in two games for the 12-2 Longhorns, who reached the College Football Playoff semifinals.
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