An injury to Jaylen Waddle forced Slade Bolden to step up at wide receiver, and now a situation at running back has positioned a pair of true freshmen to receive an opportunity on offense.
Trey Sanders, a redshirt freshman, was involved in a car accident last week.
A former five-star from Port Saint Joe, Fla., Sanders was taken to a hospital and though none of his injuries were life-threatening, Nick Saban referred to it as ‘pretty serious.” He had a successful surgery, but this becomes another setback for the talented runner.
The 6-foot, 214-pounder missed all of the 2019 season, due to a foot injury in August camp.
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“Our doctors and medical staff got him at UAB and they have been on top of this,” Saban said of Sanders on Monday. “We expect him to have a full recovery, but I do think he’s out indefinitely. There is no real timetable, but he is going to be okay.”
Prior to the accident, Sanders was coming off a strong game versus Mississippi State.
Brian Robinson was banged up, so Alabama gave Sanders an opportunity and he made the most of it. He totaled 80 yards rushing on 12 carries, including a pair of 20-plus yard runs. Fans were excited to see him have success, but now their attention will turn to Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams. Both came in the Crimson Tide’s class in February as four-star prospects.
According to Saban, the team has been encouraged by both players.
“They have not gotten a lot of opportunities so far, but we feel like they can contribute and they are capable,” Saban said.
McClellan, a native of Aledo, Texas, totaled 6,468 career rushing yards with 122 touchdowns at Aledo High School.
He was also great out the backfield, grabbing 28 passes for 429 receiving yards with three scores.
McClellan guided the program to a state championship as a freshman, and took it to another state championship game as a senior.
He brings marquee explosiveness at the position and is a home run hitter in space with his speed.
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Williams, a native of Hueytown, Ala., was a huge in-state pick up and one of the top backs in the nation. He ended his tenure at Hueytown High School with 5,929 career rushing yards, 84 rushing scores and 92 total touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder is a combination back. Williams brings power, speed, balance, pass-protection skills and hands out the backfield. He did everything for the Golden Golphers, and now he intends on helping the Tide move forward.
Mac Jones is confident that Sanders will make a full recovery and while it is difficult not having him, the redshirt junior at quarterback is excited to see what McClellan and Williams can do.
“Both have worked really hard,” Jones said. “They are workhorse type guys. They have gotten a good amount of reps in practice, and practice is pretty much like the game. So, you pretty much have to make sure they know not to over complicate things. Both will have to contribute. They will do well.”
In his 14 years at Alabama, Coach Saban has recruited dynamic players at running back, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back.
He has hit on more quarterbacks in recent years and typically brings in good talent along the offensive and defensive lines, but the four positions mentioned earlier are the ones he recruits really well.
We shall see what the Tide has in McClellan and Williams, and it starts versus the LSU Tigers on Saturday.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
