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BamaOnline ranks Alabama's Top 5 greatest RBs

Posted on 7/4/14 at 9:29 pm
Posted by RollTide1987
Augusta, GA
Member since Nov 2009
64948 posts
Posted on 7/4/14 at 9:29 pm
Do you agree?

1.] Shaun Alexander (1996-1999)
Why he's here: As a senior, almost single-handedly pulled the 1999 season out of the ditch, rallying his teammates from an early-season loss to Louisiana Tech to win the SEC title. Alexander rushed for 1,383 yards that season, the most by an Alabama player at the time. His 24 total touchdowns that season remain tied for the most in program history. The 1999 SEC Player of the Year, Alexander finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a senior. Posted a UA-record 15 100-yard rushing performances during his career and ranks as UA's career leader in carries (727) and rushing yards (3,565).
Claim to fame: Set UA single-game mark for rushing yards (291) against LSU in 1996 in a little more than a half's worth of action.

2.] Bobby Humphrey (1985-1988)
Why he's here: My standard answer to anyone who questions Humphrey's place in the top two on this list: You must have never seen him play. In fact, based solely on talent, he'd rank ahead of Alexander. "Explosive" doesn't do justice to his ability to blow past linebackers and defensive backs once he reached the second level. Humphrey and the toss sweep went off like July 4th and fireworks: with a bang. Two-year rushing total of 2,726 yards during sophomore and junior seasons stands as the most over consecutive seasons by a UA runner. If not for foot injury during his senior year, Humphrey might have put the career rushing mark at a place no other back could reach. His four 200-yard rushing games are the most in program history.
Claim to fame: A two-time, first-team All-American, Humphrey was chosen by UA as the Crimson Tide's player of the decade for the 1980s.

3.] Mark Ingram (2008-2010)
Why he's here: Behind a blossoming offensive line in 2009, Ingram carried an Alabama offense that hit a rough stretch in the passing game during the middle portion of a national championship season. Of the 12, 100-yard rushing performances he notched during his UA career, nine came in 2009, as Ingram rushed for what was then a UA single-season mark of 1,658 yards. Ingram's 246-yard performance against South Carolina that season ranks third among UA players on the single-game list. His 42 career rushing touchdowns are the most in Alabama history. Finished his UA career with 3,261 rushing yards, fourth most on the school's career list.
Claim to fame: Became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner in 2009.

4.] Trent Richardson (2009-2011)
Why he's here: One of five career 3,000-yard rushers in program history, Richardson did it in 187 fewer carries than all-time rushing leader Alexander. Set single-season marks in 2011 for all-purpose yards (2,083), rushing yards (1,679) and rushing touchdowns (21). His nine 100-yard rushing performances that season placed him in a tie with Mark Ingram for the most in school history. Posted 13, 100-yard games in all during his time at Alabama.
Claim to fame: Became the Crimson Tide's first Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back) winner in 2011.

5.] Johnny Musso (1969-1971)
Why he's here: Musso posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in two entirely different offensive systems. As a junior in 1970, he pulled the trick while working out of a pro-style attack. After coach Paul "Bear" Bryant switched to the wishbone prior to the 1971 campaign, "The Italian Stallion" did it again, this time as a halfback. For his career, Musso rushed for 2,741 yards, which ranked first on UA's all-time list at the time.
Claim to fame: A two-time, first-team All-American, Musso was chosen as the SEC Player of the Year in 1971 and finished fourth in that year's Heisman Trophy balloting.
This post was edited on 7/4/14 at 9:32 pm
Posted by tt54l32v
Member since Oct 2012
832 posts
Posted on 7/4/14 at 9:54 pm to
Cant argue with a single word.
Posted by sarc
Member since Mar 2011
9997 posts
Posted on 7/4/14 at 10:26 pm to
Over 100 years of Bama football, pretty amazing that I've been able to watch the top 4 RBs in person
Posted by TideSaint
Hill Country
Member since Sep 2008
75839 posts
Posted on 7/5/14 at 12:36 am to
Shaun was a beast. It's a shame he wasn't our first Heisman winner.
Posted by The Spleen
Member since Dec 2010
38865 posts
Posted on 7/7/14 at 8:02 am to
quote:

Shaun was a beast. It's a shame he wasn't our first Heisman winner


Yeah I truly think that sprained ankle in the Tennessee game in 99 cost him the Heisman.
Posted by Alabiker
Alabama Gulf Coast
Member since Aug 2012
502 posts
Posted on 7/13/14 at 11:49 am to
Shaun supposedly had bad practice habits. There were print articles early in his career that the best RB in the SEC was a bench warmer. Even after his huge game against LSU he was a back-up. If he had possessed a great work ethic, he would be an all-time great. Well, even more so than he is.
Posted by Alabiker
Alabama Gulf Coast
Member since Aug 2012
502 posts
Posted on 7/13/14 at 12:08 pm to
He had that big game as a freshman. He spent his sophomore season on the bench also, getting only 90 carries. The next year he had 258. Between his freshman and sophomore years , another 200-250 carries between in his first two season and he would have had at least another 1,000 yards. But Stallings said that if you didn't perform in practice then you weren't going to play on Saturday.
Posted by FairhopeTider
Fairhope, Alabama
Member since May 2012
20758 posts
Posted on 7/14/14 at 7:12 am to
Hard to disagree but I think that by the time they finished UA, Lacy was a better RB than Ingram or Richardson. It's a shame Eddie had only one year to really show his stuff.
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