SDS combed through Alabama history to find the program’s five best running backs. 

5. Trent Richardson (2009-11) — Following a Heisman winner is never an easy task, but Richardson did it with aplomb. After backing up Mark Ingram for two years, totaling more than 1,400 yards over his first two seasons on campus, Richardson surpassed that total in his junior year alone. In an All-American season in 2011, Richardson piled up 1,679 yards, the highest single-season total in Alabama history, and scored 21 touchdowns, another school record, en route to winning the Doak Walker Award and SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Richardson rode out on top after Alabama beat LSU for the national title, and he went on to be selected No. 3 overall in the 2012 NFL draft. He finished his career fifth all-time in rushing yards at Alabama.

Career stats: 3,130 yards rushing, 35 TD; 730 yards receiving, 7 TD

4. Johnny Musso (1969-71) — Before Alabama broke through with its first Heisman winner, Musso’s 1971 season was one of the school’s best shot at claiming the trophy. Even playing out of a Wishbone formation, Musso had a monstrous season as a senior. While his rushing yardage was down from his junior year (from 1,137 yards to 1,088), he doubled his touchdown total from eight to 16. Musso led the SEC in rushing in both 1970 and 1971, and in ’71 took home the conference’s Player of the Year award while earning All-American honors and finishing fourth in the Heisman race. He left school as Alabama’s all-time rushing leader and now ranks sixth in career rushing yards for the Tide. Musso was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Career stats: 2,741 yards rushing, 34 TD; 495 yards receiving, 4 TD

3. Bobby Humphrey (1985-88) — A foot injury that cut short Humphrey’s senior season may have been all that kept him from becoming Alabama’s first Heisman winner. After a strong freshman year, during which he averaged more than 5.0 yards per carry, Humphrey exploded in his sophomore and junior seasons. He went for 1,471 yards and 15 touchdowns in 1986, the third-highest rushing total in the nation, and followed that up with 1,255 yards and 11 scores in 1987, finishing 10th in Heisman voting. Humphrey left school as Alabama’s single-game, single-season and career rushing leader (he ranks second, third and second in those categories now, respectively), and he still tops the school’s all-purpose yards-per-game leaderboard. Humphrey’s son, Marlon, is a redshirt freshman at Alabama.

Career stats: 3,420 yards rushing, 33 TD; 523 yards receiving, 7 TD

2. Mark Ingram (2008-10) — It took 75 years, but Ingram became Alabama’s first Heisman winner as a sophomore in 2009, winning what’s regarded as the closest vote in the award’s history. While leading Alabama to an SEC championship and national title, Ingram ran for 1,658 yards (then a school record) and 17 touchdowns, earning consensus All-American honors and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award in the process. After off-season knee surgery, Ingram’s numbers took a dip in his junior year, but he still scored 13 rushing touchdowns, his third straight campaign with double-digit scores. Ingram holds Alabama’s rushing touchdowns record, is fourth in career rushing yards and has the third-highest yards-per-carry average among backs with at least 400 carries in school history. The New Orleans Saints took Ingram late in the first round in 2011 after he left school a year early, and he still plays there today.

Career stats: 3,261 yards rushing, 42 TD; 670 yards receiving, 4 TD

1. Shaun Alexander (1996-99) — Alexander didn’t win a Heisman like Ingram, but the versatile back put together a stellar four-year career that ended with him holding several major school records. Alexander led the SEC in total touchdowns in both his junior and senior years, finishing third and first in the conference in rushing, respectively. He led Alabama to an SEC title in 1999, finishing seventh in Heisman voting while scoring 23 touchdowns, most in the nation. Alexander set Alabama records for touchdowns in a game (five) and season (24), rushing yards in a single game (291 yards), career rushing yards and carries in a season and in a career. Despite all that mileage, he had an outstanding pro career spent mostly with the Seattle Seahawks, winning the 2005 MVP award while setting a league record for touchdowns in a season.

Career stats: 3,565 yards rushing, 41 TD; 789 yards receiving, 8 TD