Alabama football: Jaylen Waddle may return for National Championship Game

Jaylen Waddle may be coming back to the Alabama Crimson Tide ahead of the national title.

Alabama football may get some more help for the National Championship Game vs. Ohio State.

After breaking his ankle on the opening kickoff vs. the cross-divisional rival Tennessee Volunteers on Oct. 24, Alabama football star Jaylen Waddle returned to practice this week, according to AL.com and could return to for the national championship.

Though Alabama has three of the top-five Heisman Trophy finishers in quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and the award’s presumptive favorite in wide receiver DeVonta Smith, this offense has been without its most explosive player since the Third Saturday in October in Waddle. Getting him back in time for the title bout is another weapon for the Buckeyes to have to worry about.

Ohio State may have to contend with Jaylen Waddle

As with Jones, Smith and maybe Harris, Waddle is projected to go in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Waddle may be the first player off the board, going to a team like the Philadelphia Eagles picking at No. 6 or the Detroit Lions picking at No. 7. It may serve him to get fully healthy and prepare for the next level. Then again, he has one last shot to win a national championship.

Alabama is favored over the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 National Championship Game. While the Buckeyes stunned the No. 2 Clemson Tigers in the Sugar Bowl, their starting quarterback Justin Fields took a shot to the ribs by Clemson linebacker James Skalski for the whole college football world to see. If he is banged up, it may be hard for Ohio State to compete.

Should Waddle return to Alabama, it increases the odds the Crimson Tide will win a sixth national title during the Nick Saban era.

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