Jamauri McClure is only the third-leading rusher for Tulane, but as we have seen over the last part of the season, that statistic is extremely deceptive.
During the last third of the season, the redshirt freshman from Goshen, Alabama, has been impressive. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound speedster remains one of the keys for the Green Wave offense as Tulane (11-2) prepares for a College Football Playoff opener on Saturday at Ole Miss (11-1).
Tulane is looking to avenge a 45-10 regular season loss at Ole Miss on Sept. 20. In that game, McClure earned his first three carries of the season, gaining 19 yards.
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Over the next four games, he would only get five total carries. Then his season changed during a 35-24 win over Florida Atlantic on Nov. 15. McClure, who entered the game with eight carries on the season, rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts.
He then gained 122 yards on 17 carries in a 37-13 win at Temple. That was one more yard than he gained during his first season, when McClure rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries over five games.
During this year’s regular season finale, a 27-0 win over Charlotte, McClure rushed for 69 yards on 11 carries.
McClure then was among the stars in Tulane’s 34-21 win over North Texas in the American Conference Championship. He rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
In the second quarter, with the score tied at 7-7, McClure ran 30 yards to the 7-yard line and then scored on the next carry. Tulane would never again trail in the title game.
For the season, McClure has rushed for 458 yards on 68 carries and two touchdowns. With his speed, he has the ability to be a home-run hitter. According to Tulane, McClure has a 40-yard dash time of 4.49 seconds and a 100-meter time of 10.7 seconds.
His emergence should help the entire running game. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who leads the Green Wave with 610 rushing yards, can now be even more effective by utilizing play action with McClure.
Ole Miss may not have prepared for McClure to be much of a factor the first time the two teams met. But the Rebels should realize that, if not contained, McClure can become a major factor in Saturday’s rematch.
