Three weeks ago I was on "The Experts" on ESPNU, and our roundtable had the mandatory Heisman candidate discussion. After two weeks of games we were talking about Robert Griffin III, Denard Robinson, and Andrew Luck with some Landry Jones and Marcus Lattimore thrown in for good measure. As the producer jumped in our collective ears and told us to wrap it up, someone on set blurted out, "Hey, we haven't even mentioned Trent Richardson. When is he going to get it going?"
Three weeks later, we have the answer to that question.
That'd be right now.
On Saturday night, on Alabama's biggest stage of the season, the Crimson Tide running back rifled around, over and through the Florida Gators' defense for a career-high 181 yards, adding a pair of touchdowns and 27 yards receiving. It was Richardson's fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Anyone still looking for an "announced his presence with authority" moment got one in his bruising 36-yard TD run that pile-drove the final nail into Florida's coffin.
"This was very sweet, because it was against Florida," the Pensacola native said after the game. "I really wanted to play well in this game and help us get a win."
It also might have helped him win something else -- the Heisman. Let's power through his chances, shall we?
Why he'll win
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Ryan McGee | email
ESPN The Magazine, NASCAR- ESPN The Magazine senior writer
- 2-time Sports Emmy winner
- 2010 NMPA Writer of the Year
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ryan McGee
Ryan McGee is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. While you may know him for his extensive and very popular NASCAR coverage on this site and television, he's also been a constant in the Mag's coverage of college football. Why? Well, to wit:
• He started working in college athletic departments at 16 (Furman, Tennessee). Got his first sideline pass (UNC @ Virginia) when he was 12 and was totally run over by Tar Heels LB Micah Moon.
• His father was a college football official for 36 years (FBS 1981-2009), working 20 bowl games and two national championships.
• Ryan's a member of the FWAA (Football Writers Association of America).
• He's covered college football for ESPN The Magazine for the last five years.
• He's all over college sports -- Ryan authored "The Road To Omaha: Hits, Hopes and History at the College World Series."
Follow Ryan on Twitter: @ESPNMcGee
