Can Alabama Contend for a Championship Next Season Without Trent Richardson?

Even though he only finished third in the Heisman voting this year, Alabama Crimson Tide RB Trent Richardson still had the type of 2011 campaign that you can definitely deem Heisman worthy.

This year, Richardson rushed for 1,583 yards, scored 23 total touchdowns and helped guide Alabama to a berth in the BCS national championship game.

Even though Alabama was known for its tremendous top-ranked defense this year, it’s almost impossible to say that Richardson wasn’t the team’s most valuable individual player.

After losing WR Julio Jones and steady starting quarterback Greg McElroy, the Alabama offense was in need of a spark this year, and the Tide got just what it needed out of Richardson, who stepped in for former Heisman-winning teammate Mark Ingram, and exceeded high preseason expectations with his consistently dominant performances week after week.

Richardson notched over 100 yards on the ground in nine out of the 12 games he played in this year, and he turned out to be workhorse back that was able to carry a heavy load without breaking down.

Now, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the 5’11’’, 225-pound bull in shoulder pads will enter the 2012 NFL draft after Alabama meets LSU in the national title game on Jan. 9, which means that the Tide will have to face the reality of breaking in a new starting running back for the second year in a row in 2012.

Losing Richardson is obviously a huge blow to the Alabama offense, but with the type of talent and depth that Nick Saban has in Tuscaloosa, don’t expect the coach to panic just yet.

The next in line to take over Richardson’s spot will be Eddie Lacy, a talented runner in his own right, who averaged 7.5 yards per carry on 84 touches and scored seven touchdowns this year.

Lacy, only just a sophomore, is a big, physical runner just like Richardson, and he knows how to use his 6’0’’, 220-pound frame to his benefit.

The powerful rusher will be joined in the backfield by another talented sophomore, Jalston Fowler, who averaged 6.8 yards on 56 carries and scored four touchdowns this season.

Alabama will also have younger players like freshmen Blake Sims and Dee Hart, and highly touted commit Kenyan Drake, who will all be contending for carries.

As you can see, there will be plenty of rushing options for Nick Saban to choose from next season, even though none of them may possess the true “wow factor” that Trent Richardson has.

Still, the offense will obviously miss Richardson’s intimidating presence.

It will be up to QB A.J. McCarron to take the next step in 2012 and really become the definitive leader of the offense.

McCarron will once again have a strong supporting cast, with most of Alabama’s talented offensive line set to return, as well as key skill position players like Lacy, TE Michael Williams and wide receivers Kenny Bell and Duron Carter, a talented transfer who had to sit out the 2011 season.

If McCarron can take his game to the next level in 2012, the Tide should still be right in the hunt for an SEC championship, even with the loss of Richardson.

But it’s up to the young redshirt sophomore quarterback to continually develop over the offseason, elevate his play and continue to make the proper strides.

If he does all that, it wouldn't be all that shocking to see Alabama once again preparing for the BCS national title game at this time next year.