Senior McCleney Moving On

The NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all spring sport athletes as a means to make up for the cancellation of the spring athletic season. On the surface level that was the correct decision for the governing body of college athletics, but it presents complications for both programs and players. Senior outfielder for the Crimson Tide, Walker McCleney, has decided not to use the extra season and pursue life after graduation.

McCleney out of Morris, Alabama majored in human performance exercise science. He will finish his academic requirements for graduation this summer and receive his diploma in August.

College baseball is only afforded 11.7 scholarships for the entire roster, meaning most players are not on full scholarship and paying money out of pocket to attend school. Furthermore for an athlete like McCleney who is graduating, in order to play an additional year he would be required to enroll in classes. As a graduate he could choose to go to graduate school, or begin a new undergraduate degree. These factors create complications for athletes deciding to use the extra season or not.

McCleney got six at-bats this past season, striking out once and drawing one walk. He recorded five put-outs in the outfield in 13 reserve appearances for the Crimson Tide. He saw more action as an underclassmen, playing in 28 games as junior, 34 as a sophomore and 21 games as a freshman. He finishes his career with 24 hits, 7 RBIs and 129 defensive put-outs.

The outfielder out of Mortimer Jordan High School is the brother of accomplished Crimson Tide softball player Haylie McCleney.