Trent Richardon Scouting Report, RB, Alabama

Last year Mark Ingram was drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Saints, which is fine because he’s a talented player, but if you ask many draftniks he wasn’t even the best running back on his team last year at Alabama. Trent Richardson is a more dynamic player than Mark Ingram and has an opportunity this year to really prove that he could be worth a top 10 pick in the N.F.L. draft.

Trent Richardson is a more dynamic player than Mark Ingram and is simply the most complete, NFL ready running back to come out of college in quite some time. Richardson is
averaging 5.8 yards per carry through 11 games and has established himself as the best running back in all of college football. He is over 1300 yards already and is projected as the third best draft
eligible player in Todd McShay’s latest mock draft. Questions about how he would handle being the go to guy in Alabama’s offense have been answered loudly and he has left no doubt about his ability to carry the load.

For all of our other scouting reports check out our scouting report page

Some of the information provided in this scouting report is from Troy Breland of BamaHammer.com an Alabama blog. Check it out.

Measurables:

5-11 224 pounds

Richardson has called the weight room “his cave”. It is his place of worship and he is simply obsessed with it. At 5’11 and only 220 pounds, he has a power clean of over 365 pounds, a 600 pound squat, and a bench press of 475 pounds all to go along with lightning quick speed of a 4.4 40 yard dash (muscle prodigy.com…not sure how reliable this information is)

Stats:

2010: 112 carries for 700 yards, 6 touchdowns. 23 receptions for 266 yards 4 touchdowns.

2011: (as of 11/22/2011)236 attempts for 1380 yards, 20 touchdowns, 26 receptions for 322 yards, 2 receiving
touchdowns.Alabama’s All-time leader in single season touchdowns

PROS: Extremely tough runner, balanced, hard worker, threat to score every time he touches the ball, great quickness, good speed, great vision. Really a complete running back. Not a lot of wear and tear with only 2011 as the full-time back,. Good size, runs low, hits hard, and near impossible to take down on first contact.

CONS: No glaring weaknesses to his game at this point. Blue-chip prospect in every sense…is showing that he can handle a full work load early this season.

Comparison: Rashard Mendenhall/LaDainian Tomlinson

Troy player comparison: Steven Jackson

Troy’s thoughts and player summary for Trent Richardon:

Trent Richardson displays elite speed and strength, is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and is as complete a running
back as you will find. Richardson has no major injuries in his career, no off the field issues, unrivaled work ethic and is a team first
player making him a must take player. Rarely do running backs go in the top ten of the draft these days but Richardson simply can not be
passed on if running back is a need. The thing that is most impressive about this running back is not the statistics alone but the fact he
has Heisman type numbers despite every opponent focusing on stopping him. When Alabama takes the field, especially in the second half,
everyone playing and watching knows he’s getting the ball and he still puts up impressive numbers.

PROS:
Extremely tough runner, balanced, hard worker, threat to score every
time he touches the ball, great quickness, good speed, great vision.
Really a complete running back. No previous surgeries or history of
serious injuries. Good size, runs low, hits hard, and near impossible
to take down on first contact.CONS: No glaring weaknesses to his game
at this point. Blue-chip prospect in every sense…is showing that he
can handle a full work load early this season.Comparison: Steven
Jackson/Marion Barber

Sayre’s intial scouting report:

Trent Richardson (Junior), RB, 5’11″ 220

Keep an eye on Richardson as a potential Heisman trophy candidate. After pairing with Mark Ingram the last two years, Richardson is ready for a full load and could be one of the nation’s most powerful and dominant running backs. In fact, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him finish a fully healthy season with more than 2,000 yards on the ground, and I would put him right behind Andrew Luck as the top Heisman candidate as of right now. This is a guy who is relentless, and not just on the field, but off. Richardson is an absolute beast in the weight room, and consistently puts in the time and effort. He averaged over six yards per carry last year, and really developed as a receiver as well. He is one of the best players in the country, and has the potential to be a top 10 pick in the 2012 draft if he declares. He might be the best RB prospect to come along since Adrian Peterson in the class of 2007.

A couple of Highlight Films

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