Alabama Football: Will Trent Richardson Be the Best RB of the 2012 NFL Draft?

The Alabama Crimson Tide have a record of 9-1 and are ranked No.3 in the country in the BCS Rankings. They are almost guaranteed a spot in the BCS Sugar Bowl and still have a realistic shot of a national championship. 

A lot of that has to do with the shutdown defense they have that only gives up a touchdown a game on average. But on the offensive side of the ball, it's all about one person, and his name is Trent Richardson.

Richardson averages six yards a carry and has rushed for 1,205 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's a big reason the Crimson Tide average 215 yards on the ground a game, and he puts this team in a position to score, since they struggle throwing the ball.

Although he's only a junior, he will more than likely end up leaving for the NFL draft a year early. He will be a first-round pick and likely the first running back taken off the board, but will he be the best the 2012 draft class has to offer?

It's really hard to predict which running back is going to be the best, because a lot of the great runners today where unnoticed once they left college. It just proves that if you have the right back for the right system and if he's running behind a solid offensive line, he can be successful.

Judging off of pure talent, Richardson is the best back in this draft class. At 5'11", 224 pounds, he is best running inside between the tackles and shows off his explosive nature.

What's very underrated about him is he is a lot quicker than people think. Sure, he is a tough runner who will lower his shoulder into you, but he can also put a move on you and run by most linebackers.

He breaks tackles with ease and is a great blocker when needed to pick up the extra man on blitzes. He's also a solid receiver that's caught 64 passes in almost three seasons.

He's the only complete back in this draft and is without question worth the high first-round pick. He's also one of very few backs in this draft who is capable of being an every-down back and somebody who can carry the ball 25-plus times a game if needed.

Miami's Lamar Miller is probably the second-best back in this draft, as he has a lot of similar traits to Richardson.

But he doesn't have good hands, and he struggles to pick up the extra man in pass protection. He's still worth a first-round pick as well due to his speed and playmaking ability but isn't as complete as Richardson is.

Washington's Chris Polk is another great running back, but he isn't quite the receiver Richardson is, and he lacks explosiveness kicking it to the outside. He's still a strong inside runner and an underrated blocker to where he will be picked up probably in the second or third round.

With almost every other back in this draft, I have questions if they can be an every-down back in the NFL.

You could say with the exception of a couple, this is a pretty weak draft for running backs. But regardless, Richardson is by far the most talented and should show it on Sundays sooner than later.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

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