The Latest on Malachi Moore, Jaylen Waddle, and LaBryan Ray
MIAMI — University of Alabama coach Nick Saban revealed on Sunday morning that freshman defensive back Malachi Moore is "very questionable" for Monday night's national title bout with Ohio State.
Moore sustained an injury during the SEC Championship Game and, according to Saban, would aggravate him the more he exercised on it.
The All-SEC Second Team honoree and Freshman All-SEC selection did suit up against Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl last week, but did not see the field in any capacity.
"That's not for me to speak on," Crimson Tide safety Jordan Battle said earlier in the week. "Malachi is focusing on getting his back right and all that stuff, so we're just focusing on us moving forward in the next game what we can do better and what we can do to change what we did bad in the Notre Dame game."
Cornerback Patrick Surtain II said Moore 'looked fine' in practice this past week. On the season, Moore has 44 total tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and six passes defended.
Along with other injury updates, defensive end LaBryan Ray is considered 'a little more probable' against the Buckeyes. The Madison, Ala. native has missed a total of seven games this season due to an elbow sprain suffered in the lead up to the meeting with Georgia back in mid-October.
In his five games of action, Ray has 11 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. He last saw time on the gridiron against LSU on Dec. 5.
"LaBryan Ray probably a little bit more probable," Saban said. "He's been able to practice this week and hopefully we'll get some contribution from him."
Lastly, Alabama wide out Jaylen Waddle has practiced " to some degree" this week and was officially ruled a game-time decision in Saban's final chat with the media before Monday's 7 p.m (CT) kickoff inside Hard Rock Stadium.
"I think the biggest challenge is can he sustain in the game," Saban said. "And it'll be a game-time decision as to whether he thinks he can play and go out there and do his job well enough to contribute to the team, and we won't know that until we get out there after pregame warmup."
