2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jase McClellan

Jase McClellan saw an expanded role last year after having his 2021 cut short due to injury. He worked alongside Jayhmr Gibbs and set career-highs in every statistical category. This year as a senior, he is on pace to smash those numbers now that he is the lead back. 

McClellan is extremely patient running behind the line of scrimmage, allowing him to find the correct hole more often than not. He marries this with good vision and the ability to manipulate a defender’s leverage to help set up blocks and open up holes within the offensive line. Once he finds this hole, he has a quick first step to explode downfield and pick up yardage quickly. This quickness also transfers over to his lateral movement, as he possesses one of the better jab steps in this class and often looks like he is floating sideways along his blockers. Even with this quickness, he lacks the top-end speed to break huge runs. He counters this with the ability to manipulate his speed during both deceleration and acceleration to help him gain an edge and create extra yardage. 

At 5-foot-11, 212 pounds, he is not the thickest player on the field but does not shy away from contact and often initiates it in the open field. This is no surprise since he’s not a make-you-miss-in-a-phone-booth type of player.  When it comes to between the tackles, he often isn’t the lowest guy at the point of contact due to a slight upright style of running – often ending in stuffed runs. At times, he can overcome this due to his lower-body strength and leg drive. 

In the passing game, McClellan is above average and displays strong hands, making him a reliable check-down option. He is not asked to run too many exotic routes at Alabama, so the jury is still out on whether he can do so at the next level. His transition from a receiver to a runner is smooth and quick, allowing him to create good yards after the catch. However, he will need to improve as a pass-blocker to cement a role on third downs in the NFL. He often fails to attack the defender, which allows them to overpower him even with a solid base set. 

• Patient 
• Lateral movement
• Leverage Manipulation 
• Quickness

• Pass-blocking 
• Top-end speed 
• Upright running style 

• Maxwell Award Watch List (2023) 

• 40-yard dash: TBD
• 10-yard split: TBD
• Vertical: TBD
• Broad Jump: TBD
• Three-cone: TBD
• Shuttle: TBD
• Bench: 20

• All-purpose committee back 

• Gap/Interior Zone

McClellan is likely going to be a committee back in the NFL and will depend on touchdowns to hold any fantasy value. However, if we see improvement in the passing game, he could carve out a three-down role that becomes more conducive to fantasy production, but it may be a waiting game to start his career.