Former Alabama RB gives advice to Tide running backs ahead of Florida State

Former Alabama running back, Trent Richardson wants Alabama football’s running back room to take advantage of the opportunity they have in front of them with Jam Miller out to start the season.

Richardson shared the backfield with Mark Ingram during his early days in Tuscaloosa. He had a similar opportunity presented to him in 2010 when Ingram went down with an injury before the season and was sidelined for the first two games.

“I have been in a situation like this, and this was when Mark came back, it was gonna be his junior year after he won the Heisman and two weeks before he ended up getting hurt at practice,” Richardson said on “The Dynasty” podcast. “I actually got to start the first two games of the season. I knew it was gonna be big shoes to fill, not only on the field, but in that locker room, too. Like, I had to earn people’s respect, and I’ve already earned it as the next guy. But to be the guy, like, you gotta come out there and everybody knows that you’re getting the ball.”

Richardson stepped up in Ingram’s absence with two solid performances. He rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns against San Jose State and rushed for 144 yards and a score against Penn State.

The former Alabama running back credits his performance to a variety of factors that the Tide’s current running backs can lock in on against Florida State.

“You gotta know your protection, your quarterback gotta feel comfortable that he’s gonna be able to have you in on third downs or say that my backside is protected and have the trust that he can just step up in the pocket or have the trust that you’re gonna be available,” Richardson said. “Me and AJ (McCarron) had a thing where he could look out the corner of the eye and, I know that, just get out two yards, and he’s gonna flip me the ball real quick. Like, that’s something that you built over time.”

The running back position will be watched closely when the Tide takes on Florida State.