As the rest of the college football world anxiously awaits Alabama’s matchup against LSU for two weeks, Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson just patiently practices harder.
He’s already waited for two years.
The junior was the change-of-pace back behind former teammate and Heisman winner Mark Ingram for two seasons before assuming the feature back spot this year.
“Playing behind Mark, he was tremendous,” Richardson said. “I did learn a lot. With his level of success, winning the first Heisman trophy for the University of Alabama, I’m just honored to have played with the guy.”
That honor might be Richardson’s for the taking if he can parlay his bruising rushing style into another impressive performance against LSU on Saturday.
While usually recording just three quarters of action in a slew of ‘Bama blowouts this fall, the Pensacola, Fla., native has racked up 989 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns to situate himself squarely in the Heisman hunt.
Richardson’s success is hardly a surprise considering his decorated career. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a senior at Escambia High School and was a consensus All-American and five-star recruit while being wooed by nearly every big-name program.
Living in Pensacola, where Southeastern Conference fanbases live at a crossroads within the conference’s geography, Richardson faced pulls from every program.
LSU was a major factor in Richardson’s recruitment — his brother played defensive end for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette — until another No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup swayed him toward Tuscaloosa.
“I was in Atlanta for that [2008 SEC Championship between] Alabama and Florida,” Richardson said. “I know Florida won, but I liked what I saw from Coach Saban and how hard the team played. Being from Florida, even in the Panhandle, I had a lot of pressure from Gators. But I couldn’t regret choosing ‘Bama.”
LSU sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery said he and several other Tigers are friends with Richardson dating back to the recruiting process.
“When we were recruited, I got really close to Trent, and I thought he was going to come [to LSU],” Montgomery said. “He made his decision to go to Alabama, and he’s had a lot of success there. Trent is an amazing person, though. He really is.”
Richardson was a key cog in the Crimson Tide’s offense last season but was limited in Alabama’s final four games after injuring his knee and an abdominal muscle when former Tiger Patrick Peterson tackled him in the first half of last year’s game.
That sequence has provided some extra fire to Richardson’s preparation for LSU.
“It’s always in the back of my head that [LSU] took me out last year,” said the 5-foot-11-inch, 225-pound back. “I know they’re going to do everything they can to slow me down again, so I can’t wait to see what a healthy Trent can do in this game.”
LSU senior linebacker Ryan Baker said Richardson’s ability to break tackles will make his unit’s job a little tougher Saturday night.
“He’s a physical guy compared to some of the guys we’ve played this year,” Baker said. “He’s not looking to avoid anyone because he sees the lane and he goes to get it.”
On the flip side, Richardson said he hasn’t seen a combination of speed and physical play like the Tiger defense — which is third in the country against the run — in his career.
“Their secondary is so sound in tackling, and you’ve got defensive ends chasing down running backs in the open,” he said. “But then I’ll turn and see a couple of times when they just grab people and almost clothesline them, for real.”
Despite earning his own lore with a great junior season to date, Richardson doesn’t mind the lingering connections with Ingram, which his teammates say is only a compliment.
“Trent and Mark are different players, different guys, really,” said Alabama junior offensive lineman Barrett Jones. “They’re both successful because they truly are unselfish. I think Trent learned how to be a leader from Mark and is only continuing that legacy. It’s his time now.”
 
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]