Former Alabama Running Back Picked up by Buccaneers

On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that they had signed former Alabama running back Jase McClellan following Rachaad White sustaining a groin injury in the Buccaneers' 29-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans in week one of the preseason.

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McClellan had been a free agent since the Atlanta Falcons waived him on June 17 following his rookie season with the team.

Bucky Irving, Tampa's top running back, was absent from the Buccaneers' first preseason game, so White took the lead in the backfield. He accumulated 28 yards on six attempts. Owen Wright delivered an impressive outing, amassing 87 yards and scoring one touchdown on 18 carries, while Sean Tucker contributed with 50 yards on 13 attempts, completing Tampa Bay's ground attack.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide running back had an impressive 2023 season, rushing for 890 yards and scoring eight touchdowns on 180 carries. His strong performance caught the attention of the Atlanta Falcons, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

McClellan struggled to gain momentum with the Falcons during his rookie season. Despite leading the team in rushing during the preseason with 97 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, his role in the regular season was nearly nonexistent. He played in only two regular-season games, accumulating a total of 17 rushing yards on five carries in a 34-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on October 20. Later, he recorded 15 rushing yards on eight carries in a 38-6 loss to the Denver Broncos on November 17.

After November 28, McClellan was unable to practice with the team due to a knee injury. This injury eventually resulted in the Falcons placing him on Injured Reserve on December 11. Due to injuries, decreased productivity, and a crowded running back room featuring Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, McClellan was ultimately waived by the team in June.

The Buccaneers will play against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their second preseason game on Saturday at 6 p.m. CDT. The game will take place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, where the former Alabama running back may see his first action of the preseason this year.

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