3. Trent Richardson
The Pensacola native’s best season was his junior season when he scampered for 1, 679 yards and 24 overall touchdowns (21 rushing, three receiving). He led Alabama to a national championship, finished third in Heisman voting, and was a first-team All-American.
Listed at five-foot-eleven and 225 pounds, Richardson had the speed of an Olympic track star and the strength of a massive offensive lineman. Trent came to Alabama football out of Escambia High School in Pensacola, FL. NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith is an alum of the same school. Highly touted as the best running back since Adrian Peterson, he rushed for 419 yards and six touchdowns in a game.
The Doak Walker award winner contributed immediately as a freshman. Rushing for 751 yards and eight touchdowns, Richardson had the makings of a real superstar. In the BCS Championship game against Texas, he plodded for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
While Mark Ingram sat out two games due to injury, Trent rushed for 144 yards and a score against Penn State leading to being named Co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week. The sophomore finished with 700 yards rushing, 266 receiving, 634 return yards and eleven total touchdowns (six rushing, four receiving and one return).
Richardson’s junior season was astonishing. First running back from Alabama football to win the Doak Walker award despite the history of celebrated Crimson Tide backs. His 21 rushing scores were an SEC record for a running back until Derrick Henry broke it with 28. He also tied Shaun Alexander’s SEC record of 24 total touchdowns for a running back.