ALABAMA FOOTBALL: Trent Richardson, the NFL & Mark Ingram

There were many things that made Trent Richardson special at Alabama. His work ethic in training in the weight room and on the practice field and in film study and in learning the playbook is the trait of a winner. And Richardson was a winner at Alabama. He made big plays on offense, and Nick Saban loved to explain that Trent Richardson was one of the best players on kick coverage at Alabama.

Saban said, “Trent Richardson could cover kickoffs better than anybody on the team, and he actually did that for a while, but we really don’t want him to play on the kickoff coverage team.”

Richardson showed he cared about excellence in everything he did as a football player.

During the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, Pro Football Weekly released the video embedded in this post about Alabama’s Trent Richardson. (You need Adobe Flash to view this video, so if you are on some mobile platforms, you are out of luck.) Richardson told the media he wants to be an every down back; he wants the ball on third and three or fourth and one.

“I am a whole, complete back,” Richardson said. “Not to be cocky or anything, but I work on my game every day.”

Richardson explained he works hard in the classroom to learn plays and formations and to anticipate what the defense is doing.

“I love to block,” Richardson said.

Another selling point Richardson touted at the Combine was speed.

“I’ve never been caught from behind,” the Alabama great said.

Richardson talked about the special bond between himself and former Alabama running back Mark Ingram. He said both backs were helpful to one another.

An interesting fact in this video and a fact that should be repeated on the recruiting trail is that the only running back taken in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft was Alabama’s Mark Ingram. Richardson seems a lock to be taken in the first round this year. This showcases how Alabama under Nick Saban puts offensive players (Ingram, Richardson, Julio Jones, Andre Smith and James Carpenter) into the NFL just like it does with its defensive stars.

So, where do you think Trent Richardson go in the 2012 NFL Draft?