While Trent Richardson doesn’t have a Heisman Trophy on his mantel, he’s projected to go much higher than former Alabama back Mark Ingram Jr. in the NFL draft.
This year’s draft is set for April 26-28 in New York. It’s unlikely that Richardson will slip out of the top 10. In 2011, Ingram was selected with the 28th pick by New Orleans.
Both running backs led the Crimson Tide to national championships, for the 2009 and 2011 seasons, respectively. But there is a difference between the two, and that’s why Richardson is projected to get drafted much higher.
Richardson is considered by NFL scouts to be a better all-around back because of his hands, better speed and power.
“Both of us run hard, and both of us just want to play the game of football,” Richardson said. “I have [nothing] negative to say about his game. I’m pretty sure he has [nothing] negative to say about my game. When it comes down to it, we kind of play alike.”
When pressed, Richardson said that he admires Ingram’s vision, but concluded that he prefers to run to contact instead of trying to elude defenders.
Ingram had an injury-filled rookie season. He managed only 474 yards on 122 carries and scored five touchdowns.
Richardson had minor surgery on his left knee after the season and didn’t compete at the scouting combine. He was disappointed that he couldn’t participate, but knows that NFL teams are well aware of his body of work.
“I always wanted to [attend the combine] and show all my skills,” Richardson said. “That’s what the top guys do.”
Richardson envisions himself playing a major role early in his NFL career.
“When it comes down to it, I’ll be the dude that’s on the field and getting the ball on third-and-3 or fourth-and-1, and not to be cocky or anything, but I work on my game every day. ... I work in the classroom learning plays and learning the defensive line and what the linebackers and safeties are doing so I can pick up my blitzes,” he said. “I love to block.”
Richardson touched the ball 614 times for the Crimson Tide and lost only one fumble. He had no fumbles lost over his last 550 carries.
Despite not having any apparent weaknesses, Richardson is not satisfied.
“I don’t say one part of my game needs work, all of my game [needs improvement],” Richardson said. “When it comes down to being a football player, you need to work on everything, not just one part of your game. That’s not me. I work on every part of my game when it comes to playing football.”
Richardson is aware that teams have de-valued the position. Over the past 10 drafts, only eight running backs have been selected in the top 10 and just 28 in the first round.
The outcomes of the 2005 and 2006 drafts have led to the change.
In 2006, Reggie Bush (second overall) Laurence Maroney (21), DeAngelo Williams (27th) and Joseph Addai (30th) were selected in the first round. In 2005, Ronnie Brown (second), Cedric Benson (fourth) and Cadillac Williams (fifth) were picked in the first round.
Addai is the only player in that group who still is with the team that drafted him. NFL teams have been able to find good running backs late in the draft and among undrafted players. Houston’s Arian Foster, one of the league’s top backs, was not drafted in 2009. He led the league in rushing with 1,616 yards in 2010.
“[Richardson is] the best running back to come out since Adrian Peterson,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said. Peterson was selected seventh overall in 2007 by the Vikings.
After Richardson is selected there will be a long wait before the next running back is drafted. Boise State’s Doug Martin, Virginia Tech’s Dave Wilson, Oregon’s LaMichael James and Miami’s Lamar Miller round out the top five running backs.
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