Alabama running back Eddie Lacy is the next in line to the Alabama running back throne.

Despite only 380 career yards vs. SEC teams, the junior tailback for the Crimson Tide finds himself the recipient of a copious amount of preseason hype, including being mentioned as one of the Heisman dark horses by HeismanPundit.com.

That's a lot of hype, especially considering Lacy missed spring practice after undergoing injury for a turf-toe injury.

If the early returns from fall camp are any indication, Lacy looks like he's ready to live up to—and possibly exceed—the preseason hype.

Alabama scrimmaged on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and Lacy was the star of the show, rushing eight times for 57 yards and catching five passes for 25 yards.

"The first offense played pretty well but didn't finish a couple drives," said Saban after the scrimmage (via rolltide.com). "Eddie Lacy did a good job. He had limited reps. We only wanted him to have six or eight carries, and he had eight carries."

Limited reps, but very productive ones.

That's a good sign if you're a Crimson Tide fan.

Quarterback AJ McCarron proved that he can win games with his arm late last season. But all things being equal, doing it with the running game behind college football's best offensive line is probably the path of least resistance—especially considering that the Crimson Tide is looking to replace departed wide receivers Darius Hanks and Marquis Maze, along with tight end Brad Smelley.

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That's not to say wide receivers like Kevin Norwood and Kenny Bell can't pick up the slack, but the foundation of success in Tuscaloosa is to run the ball and play defense.

Judging from Lacy's spring stats, his absence from spring practice and relative inexperience in the SEC aren't going to be issues for the Crimson Tide.