Alabama Crimson Tide Fans, Ready for the Headlines? Get Ready for Eddie!

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fla.) As a sportswriter who covers the Tide as closely as I do, the number one question I'm asked is, "Who will be a surprise this year?"

My first answer is and will always be, Eddie Lacy.

Though his carries will be limited, the ones he does get are sure to have a highlight or two when he does. Such highlights will leave coaches scratching their heads and wondering how one team can be so deep at one position.

For the first time in Alabama's history of great running backs, it could be argued that Alabama has not one, but two back up running backs who would start on almost any other team in the nation.

"I've practiced against them all, but Eddie Lacy is really something special." Said Cory Reamer to me at the Sr. Bowl in Mobile. "All of our backs are fantastic in their own way, but Eddie is like a freakish clone with the best of them all in his body." he surmised.

Mark Ingram has the uncanny ability of balance that made him the league's best at yards after contact. Trent Richardson has size and speed. Eddie Lacy has has power to muscle that extra yard for the first down, size to run over a defense back, and speed that means if he gets a step on you, you may as well quit running after him.

Defenders would look better diving for an ankle than simply being left in the dust like they were running in quicksand.

In a flat out race, Lacy would probably beat both Ingram and Richardson and may in fact be pushed more by 4th stringer Demitrius Goode who the other running backs all say may be the fastest through the hole.

That is the sentiment of last year's Heisman trophy winner, Mark Ingram when he said, "Eddie's real quick, runs with power. He's bigger than all of us, like 6-1, 6-2 and maybe faster."

So what does the young man, Eddie Lacy have to say about himself?

"I've still got to get in better shape, continue to learn the system better and refine my blocking techniques because nobody plays running back for Nick Saban without being able to pick up blitzes and properly block. If I accomplish this over spring, I'll get some carries." Lacy said.

"One thing that every person on this team knows is that you prepare like a starter because nobody is sure when their opportunity comes up. Roy Upchurch was third string last year and got a start, so we all know anything can happen." Eddie continued.

Prepare like a starter, play like a champion. It is a saying I've heard from other Alabama players during the Nick Saban era. It's something that must be said early and often in practice and in the weight room.

For opposing coaches this year, you may not see any grins if the starting running back limps to the sideline for a rest, because now you have to face the fresh legs of the deepest talent pool in the entire nation at running back, and you may not like the results.