ANAHEIM, Calif. — Alabama coach Nick Saban said that running back Jase McClellan is “doing great” on Wednesday during a media availability at Disneyland.

“Jase is doing great,” Saban said. “He practiced yesterday and today. Looks good. We gave him a lot of time off to heal his foot & it looks like it paid off.”

McClellan, the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher this season with 803 yards, missed the SEC Championship game earlier this month with a foot injury. Alabama beat then-No. 1 Georgia, 27-24, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Roydell Williams led the Tide with 64 rushing yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Saban was optimistic about McClellan’s chances of playing in the College Football Playoff national semifinal against No. 1 Michigan on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl (4 p.m. CT, ESPN).

“Barring some setback, the way he’s practiced, I don’t see why he couldn’t play the game,” Saban said.

Nick Saban comments on Elijah Pritchett’s status after Tide lineman’s arrest

Alabama coach Nick Saban commented Wednesday for the first time on last week’s arrest of offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett on a charge of transmitting a sexually-transmitted disease.

“We’re handling this set of circumstances internally, and that’s all I can really comment about it,” Saban said following a Rose Bowl welcome event at Disneyland. “His status on the team has not been affected to this point.”

Pritchett, a redshirt freshman, was arrested by Tuscaloosa police for the Class C misdemeanor after a report was filed earlier this month. After appearing in court, Pritchett was granted youthful offender status and no further information can be released about his case, an associate city attorney told 247 Sports.

With right tackle JC Latham expected to enter the NFL draft next month, Pritchett is a candidate to start at that spot next season. He competed with freshman Kadyn Proctor for the left tackle job this season, including rotating with Proctor during several early-season games.

Alabama arrived Tuesday in Southern California for Monday’s Rose Bowl game against Michigan. The Tide began practicing Tuesday but only a portion of Thursday and Saturday’s practices are open to media viewing.