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Nick Saban comments on Jaylen Waddle’s status for the national championship game
By Keith Farner
Published:
Optimism continues to grow around WR Jaylen Waddle’s possible return to Alabama for Monday’s national championship against Ohio State as he continues to recover from a serious leg injury suffered on Oct. 24 in a kickoff return against Tennessee.
“He’s been running, but we need to see him in practice,” coach Nick Saban told ESPN’s Chris Low. “Our medical people will evaluate him as the week goes on and make a decision from there. He wants to play and has been working hard to get back.”
Before his injury, Waddle caught 25 passes in five games, including four touchdown receptions, and averaged 22.3 yards per catch.
While WR DeVonta Smith has drawn a lot of attention and headlines for much of the season, but especially after Waddle’s injury. But the possible addition would be a huge even though Alabama ranks second nationally in scoring (48.2 points per game). The Crimson Tide are also tied for fourth nationally with 16 passing plays of 40 yards or longer and rank first nationally with seven passing plays of 60 yards or longer.
He had at least 120 receiving yards in each of the four games to start the season. He also caught at least five passes in every game, and one of his many highlights early in the season was a 90-yard touchdown catch against Georgia to turn that game and build momentum toward the Crimson Tide.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
