30 best Alabama football players to play for Nick Saban

Best Alabama football players under Nick Saban: 27. Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson is always a hard case to make after his wild NFL career, but he was a stud at the University of Alabama. Richardson had been compared to some of the all-time greats back in high school. His running style was compared to Earl Campbell and Emmitt Smith. He showed why once he stepped on campus.

Richardson went to Tuscaloosa in 2009. He shared time in the backfield as a freshman with Roy Upchurch and Mark Ingram, Jr. He had a pretty good freshman season, but he became a star in the National Championship Game against Texas. He had 119 yards and two touchdowns to seal the win for the Crimson Tide.

That was a sign of things to come. His sophomore year was strange because Mark Ingram was a superstar in the backfield, and Saban knew he had to get him the ball. However, Richardson was making huge plays every time he touched the ball as well. he eventually make Richardson a kick returner, and he quickly became one of the best in the country. He even brought one back to the house.

Richardson was unleashed in his junior year. Mark Ingram was headed to the NFL, and Richardson was alone to dominate college football. He rushed for 1,679 yards. Only Derrick Henry has ever rushed for more in one season. Richardson also broke the SEC record with 21 touchdowns in a season, although that has been broken twice since by other Alabama running backs. This was just an insane season from a running back. The only reason Richardson didn’t make it back-to-back Heisman Trophies for the Crimson Tide is because of the hype around Cam Newton’s season at Auburn.