Trent Richardson Combine: Alabama RB Must Have Strong Outing to Ensure High Pick

Trent Richardson is the consensus top available running back in this year's draft following a storied career at Alabama. If he wants to be selected early on the first day, however, he still needs to have a terrific showing at the NFL scouting combine.

The value of running backs as a whole is on the decline due to many teams moving toward more high-powered, pass-happy offenses in recent seasons. So if Richardson wants to be taken inside the top five like he's been projected for most of the offseason, he must prove he's an elite playmaker.

He gained more than 2,000 total yards and scored 24 touchdowns in his final season with the Crimson Tide, which put him in a good draft position. Now he must confirm it not only during the crucial drills, but also during individual interviews with teams.

The 40-yard dash is always the most talked-about event in Indianapolis. Everybody wants to know how fast prospects run in a straight line, although those situations are rare during an actual game.

Less hyped drills like the shuttle and cones, which illustrate how much agility and quickness a player has, will be more important to Richardson. He must prove he'll be able to make defenders miss in space so he can make it to the next level.

Then there's interviews with interested teams. He's been a target of the Cleveland Browns or Tampa Bay Buccaneers is most early mock drafts. Richardson needs to show those teams he's not just a tremendous athlete, but also somebody who will be a reliable teammate.

When you look at the other teams selecting early in Round 1, there aren't many with a void to fill at the running back position. Aside from the Browns and Bucs, the Washington Redskins are the only franchise inside the top dozen who might strongly consider Richardson.

That means a poor showing inside Lucas Oil Stadium could very well cause him to have a draft day slide. And, as Aaron Rodgers will attest, once that pebble starts rolling down the hill, it's tough to stop.

So while it may seem like Richardson is in a comfortable position heading into combine week, it's actually quite the opposite. He still has a lot to prove before a team will become confident enough to spend a high pick on him.

That's why the combine is so important on the road to the draft.