Tag: University of Alabama

Should the Panthers trade for Texans WR John Metchie III?

Has the Texans’ acquisition of Stefon Diggs opened up a trade target for the Panthers?

When one door closes, another one opens. And on Wednesday, the door for John Metchie III in Houston may have gotten a whole lot tighter.

This morning, the Texans gave their keys to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The defending AFC South champions acquired the 30-year-old wideout from the Buffalo Bills, as well as two late-round draft picks, in exchange for a 2025 second-round selection.

Diggs joins an already crowded arsenal of pass-catching targets for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who also has fellow receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, tight end Dalton Schultz and even running back Joe Mixon at his disposal. So where does that leave our guy Metchie?

The 2022 second-round pick hasn’t had the most seamless transition from the University of Alabama to the pros. After sitting out what would have been his rookie campaign because of acute promyelocytic leukemia, Metchie couldn’t find his stride in 2023.

Over 16 games, he recorded 30 targets — just the seventh-most on the Texans this past season. His debut year resulted in 16 catches for 158 yards on the fifth-most productive passing offense in football.

And now a four-time Pro Bowler will need his share of targets in the Houston offense.

But as we stated in the very first sentence of this post, this move could lead to an opening for Metchie. (We’re lookin’ at you, Dan Morgan.)

The Carolina Panthers have dedicated a good chunk of their offseason to helping second-year quarterback Bryce Young. Not only did they sign away a combined $153 million for two new starting guards in Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, but they also nabbed a Pro Bowl receiver of their own in Diontae Johnson.

Their work on that front, however, is far from done — and Metchie fits right into their mission.

Head coach Dave Canales is on the lookout for weapons who can find their own space, something Young sorely lacked throughout his rough rookie season. We saw that intent with the trade for one of the game’s best separators in Johnson and could see even more of it early on in the 2024 NFL draft.

And hey, maybe the draft brings something other than an actual selection. With Diggs now in tow for Houston, perhaps the misfit Metchie could be had for a Day 3 pick.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, Metchie won on polish. He wasn’t the biggest or fastest guy but proved he can find openings through his instincts and his route-running.

And much of that success came with Young as his quarterback. Metchie notched his collegiate bests across the board during Young’s Heisman-winning season in 2021, when he reeled in 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.

So perhaps opportunity will knock for Metchie — and maybe it’s the Panthers who should be on the other side of that door.

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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Jase McClellan, Alabama

Jase McClellan led the Alabama backfield last year.

Jase McClellan spent all four seasons with the Crimson Tide, trying to break through the well-stocked backfield. As a freshman, he was behind Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.. He gained steam to start his junior season with Harris gone and Robinson sharing the load but tore his ACL after five games.

When he returned for his junior season, he was second only to Jahmyr Gibbs and ended that year on a higher note with a string of 12+ carry games including 156 yards and two scores against Austin Peay. He finally led the backfield as a senior in 2023 when he ran for 890 yards and gained 137 yards as a receiver. He was still a part of a committee with his 180 rushes, along with Roydell Williams (111). Quarterback Jalen Milroe also ran the ball 161 times.

Height: 5-10
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.5 seconds

McClellan didn’t do anything to set himself apart in the NFL Combine and declined running the 40-yard dash where he was expected to turn in a 4.5-ish timing. He’s the right size for the position and carries the cachet of being from Alabama, but is expected to be picked up in the final rounds of the NFL draft by a team seeking to beef up their backfield depth with a chance of gaining a committee member.

Table: Jase McClellan NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD
2020 Alabama 12 23 245 10.7 2 1 1 0
2021 Alabama 5 40 191 4.8 1 10 97 3
2022 Alabama 13 112 655 5.8 7 14 174 3
2023 Alabama 13 180 890 4.9 8 15 137 0

 

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Determined runner that gets all the yardage that was blocked and finishes runs to pick up the extra yards
  • Excellent vision combines with smart running to pick the right lanes and can cut through traffic. Good fit for a one-cut rushing scheme
  • Patient runner that follows the blocks to daylight
  • Capable receiver with the biggest hands among running backs at the NFL Combine
  • Has the size and strength to be a power rusher that can break tackles and handle inside rushing
  • Tough runner not afraid of contact

Cons

  • Lacks explosiveness, more of a power runner through contact than a speed rusher looking for long gains
  • Pass protection still needs work, needs more aggression as a blocker
  • Work as a receiver was limited to very basic routes from the backfield
  • Durability concerns after a torn ACL and other dings in college

Fantasy outlook

McClellan offers an intriguing set of skills later in the draft. As with all ‘Bama backs, assessing them is harder since they benefit from a dominant O-line and yet compete for carries against other elite backs in the ever-stocked backfield. While impacted by injuries, he had to wait for his turn as the primary until he was a senior.

He can add to any NFL roster and with an expectation of being taken sometime in Day 3, he is available to any NFL team seeking to bolster their depth.  McClellan will need to work his way up the depth chart before he can offer any reliable fantasy value, but in the right situation, he can become a weekly contributor. He’s not expected to become the primary back for a team, but has enough skills and potential that he is worth tracking.

National reaction to news Alabama head coach Nick Saban is set to retire

ESPN’s Chris Low is reporting that University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban is set to retire

Legendary head coach Nick Saban is set to retire and walk away from college football, according to ESPN’s Chris Low, who dropped the bombshell report on Wednesday afternoon.

Saban was hired by the University of Alabama in 2007 and has led the Crimson Tide to six National Championships and 11 Southeastern Conference championships.

Under Saban’s leadership, four skill players have won the Heisman Trophy (Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith, and Bryce Young), while the Crimson Tide has recorded 201 wins during his tenure.

If this truly is it for Saban, he’ll exit the college football coaching ranks with a college record of 292-71-1 and 16 consecutive seasons with a top-five recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

Current Eagles who played for Saban include Jalen Hurts, Landon Dickerson, Julio Jones, DeVonta Smith, Josh Jobe, Eli Ricks, and Tyler Steen.

With the news quickly trickling out, here’s the national reaction to a shocking day in the coaching community.

Alabama compensation committee meeting to discuss two UA coaches

The UA Board of Trustees and the Compensation Committee will met to discuss the contracts of Nate Oats and Wes Hart.

The University of Alabama compensation committee will meet on Friday to discuss Nate Oats, the men’s basketball coach, and Wesley Hart, the women’s head soccer coach. Both coaches have been incredible additions to the university and have taken their respective programs to new heights.

Nate Oats was the 2021 SEC Coach of the Year and won the conference regular season as well as the conference tournament. Oats also made a Sweet 16 appearance and currently has the basketball team ranked No. 4 in the country. In only his fourth year, the Tide will want to lock him down forbears to come before other schools get too interested.

As for Wesley Hart, he had an outstanding year leading the ladies’ soccer team to a 22-3-1 record with an SEC championship. UCLA knocked out the Crimson Tide in the final four of the women’s college cup.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Alabama athletics and news regarding the Crimson Tide.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

The University of Alabama’s most notable alumni

Did you know these celebrities graduated from the University of Alabama?

The University of Alabama’s slogan ‘Where Legends Are Made’ most certainly includes athletes. Some of the biggest names in professional sports, most notably football, once attended The Capstone.

While those affiliated with the Crimson Tide love their sports, there are plenty of celebrities and notable people who graduated from Alabama and went on to make history or become household names over the years. in fields outside of athletics.

Having been an institution of higher learning since 1831, many famous individuals have received degrees from Alabama.

From sportscasters, to politicians, to authors and musicians, Alabama has produced their fair share of legends.

In no particular order, here is a look at some of the most influential and recognizable celebrity alumni of the University of Alabama:

Where did two of Clemson’s decommitments visit Friday?

Since Brent Venables departed for Oklahoma on Sunday, all three of Clemson’s IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) commits have decomitted, including four-star defensive end Jihaad Campbell and four-star cornerback Daylen Everette. Judging by social media, …

Since Brent Venables departed for Oklahoma on Sunday, all three of Clemson’s IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) commits have decomitted, including four-star defensive end Jihaad Campbell and four-star cornerback Daylen Everette.

Judging by social media, it appears that the former Clemson commit(s) are on respective visits to the University of Alabama this weekend.

Campbell was spotted dining with Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) 2022 five-star edge rusher Jeremiah Alexander — an Alabama commit — who snapped the photo of the trio and posted it on Twitter.

As for Everette, he appeared to arrive in Tuscaloosa late Friday night.

Both Campbell and Everette took in their official visits just three weeks ago and appeared to be locked in for before making the surprise move(s) to decommit late this week.

Christmas is right around the corner.  Once again Clemson Variety & Frame is ready to make it a special holiday for your favorite Tiger.

Order today to make sure your gift arrives in time for Christmas.

Bryce Young is making a case for the Heisman each week he plays

SportsPulse: Right now, it feels like Bryce Young can do it all. That’s why he sits atop Paul Myerberg’s QB rankings. But can he win the Heisman?

SportsPulse: Right now, it feels like Bryce Young can do it all. That’s why he sits atop Paul Myerberg’s QB rankings. But can he win the Heisman?

Mac Jones, criticized for playing in a QB-friendly offense, likes the 49ers’ QB-friendly offense

Mac Jones sees some similarities between the 49ers offense and Alabama’s offense.

NFL Draft season is always filled with rumors and smokescreens, but this year seems to be taking it all to the next level. After the 49ers traded up to the third pick in the upcoming draft, rumors about which quarterback they’re going to select started up immediately. Already people are — predictably and pointlessly — trying to read into who the 49ers are sending to watch at various pro days.

Former Alabama star Mac Jones is one of the quarterbacks that the 49ers seem to be interested in. In his first, and only, full season as a starter, Jones threw for 4500 yards, 41 touchdowns, just four interceptions, and completed a whopping 77.3% of his passes.

The 49ers appear to be at the end of the line with incumbent starter Jimmy Garappolo and Jones might be a fit for the 49ers. Prior to his Pro Day workout, which will reportedly have 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in attendance, Jones praised the construction of the 49ers offense.

It’s somewhat ironic that Jones would admit that the 49ers offense is similar to Alabama’s because it backs up some critics of his play who say he was propped up by good skill players and was just tasked with getting them the ball quickly without thinking or doing too much. In that way, at least, Shanahan’s offense is very much like the one Jones operated in Tuscaloosa. But the offense the 49ers have employed since the trade for Jimmy G isn’t really the fully-fleshed-out version we saw in Atlanta when Shanahan helped Matt Ryan win an MVP award.

When the 49ers traded up for the No. 3 pick, most people inferred it was for a quarterback. The type of quarterback talent who would allow Shanahan to design an offense that is not limited by the physical or mental limitations of his quarterback. Jones appears to have the latter down, but scouts have widely questioned his physical ability.

At least in recent years, teams haven’t had to trade up for a player like Jones. It doesn’t make much sense for the 49ers to take a trip to McDonald’s when they have a Big Mac in the fridge.

There’s still a lot of time before the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off, but it sounds like Jones, at least, thinks he and the 49ers would be a smooth fit. That likely won’t alleviate the concerns of 49ers fans that think he’s he succeeded thanks to great supporting talent and coaching, but maybe they can convince themselves it’s just smoke and mirrors until the pick is actually made.

It’s hard to say, since nobody should read too much into anything this time of year. It’s all meant to deceive. Unless it’s not. But you never can tell the difference.

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NFL Draft: 5 Alabama prospects the Falcons should consider

The 2021 NFL draft is just over a month away and the Falcons have been linked to a number of players from Alabama, the country’s premier college football program and elite producer of pro talent.

The 2021 NFL draft is just over a month away and the Falcons have been linked to a number of players from Alabama, the country’s premier college football program and elite producer of pro talent.

Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones were both first-round picks because of what they accomplished while playing at Alabama. Previously, I highlighted five players from the University of Georgia the Falcons should consider in this year’s draft. On my next stop, I examine five players from the University of Alabama that would make sense for Atlanta.