Finding Falcons is a series that ventures beyond Atlanta's decision to draft a specific player and reveals the why behind doing so. Exclusive interviews with Falcons position coaches, area scouts and the decision-makers at the top detail the moments that solidified the decision to draft each of the men who make up their 2024 draft class. For the next few weeks, we'll tell those stories.
Last week, we found an intriguing dichotomy to JD Bertrand that brought the Falcons to his door. This week, Jase McClellan's loyalty and patience take center stage.
Story by Tori McElhaney
Flowery Branch, Ga. – It took three years for Jase McClellan to become "the guy" at the University of Alabama.
He'd long waited his turn to be the featured back in an offense that spotlighted plenty of first-round talent in the backfield. First, it was Najee Harris; then, Brian Robinson; and, finally, Jahmyr Gibbs.
As these players gained recognition year in and year out, McClellan – a four-star recruit who was the No. 6 running back in the 2020 recruiting class, which also included Bijan Robinson at No. 1 – waited in the wings, buying his time. He studied. He trained. But he was a young player who eagerly awaited the day when he could shine.
In the current college football landscape, McClellan's story of loyalty to a program is quickly becoming a rarity. In the new world of the transfer portal and lucrative NIL deals, McClellan did what most top-ranked recruits find difficult to do: wait.
Prior to his senior season in 2023, McClellan had only started five games for the Crimson Tide. He made the most of his carries as a role player, his seven touchdowns and 5.8 yards per carry in 2022 attest to that, but he wasn't the aforementioned "guy."
And - let's be honest - he could have been. He had the talent. Teams across Power 5 football would have jumped at the opportunity to snatch him up.
That is, if he ever left Alabama.
However, that wasn't the path McClellan saw for himself. So, it wasn't until the NFL Draft claimed his backfield running mates that McClellan stepped into position to lead the rushing attack, outright. In his 12 starts, McClellan displayed his trademark consistency, rushing for 890 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging a healthy 4.9 yards per carry.
Falcons southeast area scout Shepley Heard took note as he watched McClellan work year after year with little notice from national media on high.
"You noticed him when he got the ball last year, and in previous years, too," Heard said. "… So, I knew about him going into this year. But now, he's finally a starter, the guy that is the focal point at running back for that offense."
And what leapt out to Heard time and time again was McClellan's steadiness, an invaluable quality in the backfield.
"You trust that guy," Heard said. "Alabama, they've got some of the top players from all over the country coming in. They can get their pick of the litter from running backs. … But when it comes down to those tough yards that they need to get and who they want to give the ball to, Jase has been one of those guys."
Falcons running backs coach Michael Pitre said it was obvious the moment he cut on the tape that McClellan was a physical runner who took advantage of the opportunities he got, even when those opportunities were limited.
Furthermore, when evaluating the running back position, Pitre stated, it's not always going to be about the stat line. Sometimes it really is a pass of the eye test.
"You look at a guy like Jase, and you say, 'OK, it's not gonna necessarily be the testing and the numbers and this and that,' but if you turn on the football film, you watch a guy inflict his will on the other team," Pitre said. "And you watch it over and over and over through a 60-minute game."
This fits the running style the Falcons have worked to establish with Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson the last two seasons. Pitre has said since his arrival that he wants his group to get more difficult to tackle as the game goes on. McClellan has those traits, with Heard even likening him to Allgeier's physical running style.
Allgeier is one who never shies away from contact, and that's what Heard saw in McClellan, too. The pair also share an appreciation for ball security. Despite his hard-nosed mindset, Allgeier has yet to put the ball on the turf in the NFL. Likewise, McClellan fumbled just once during his college career.
As a scout, as a coach, you trust players like that, according to Heard.
"He's always there," Heard said the night the Falcons drafted McClellan in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. "You can trust him when you need that short yardage. I'd trust Jace in that situation, and I think that's the reason we just pulled him off the board."
There is further value in having someone like McClellan on the roster. He has some key history on special teams that the Falcons liked, which could factor into the strategy Atlanta deploys with the new kickoff rules being implemented in 2024.
Even if that's not the case, though, McClellan is no stranger to waiting his turn. He's also no stranger to making the most of opportunities given to him, whether they be plentiful or scarce.
No matter what, Heard concluded, he'll be the same guy regardless.
"He's the type of player that's going to go in, he's going to do whatever is asked of him. He did that at Alabama, when he wasn't the starter. Do whatever, come in as a backup, play special teams, that's the type he is," Heard said. "He's a guy that's going to come in and he's going to work hard. He's going to do things the right way. He's going to study. He's going to train. He's, again, going to do whatever is asked of him."
