Spring Football: Eddie Lacy’s Surgery Impacts Crowded Alabama Backfield

Trent Richardson’s departure from Alabama for the NFL Draft leaves a massive void in the Crimson Tide’s offense — figuratively and literally. The figurative comes in the form of 1679 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, and the literal, his 5-foot-11, 230-pound frame.

Eddie Lacy was Richardson’s reserve through the Tide’s title run, scoring seven touchdowns and racking up nearly 700 yards. He was on track to take up the Tide’s star running back mantle, but his place is in question with today’s announcement Lacy will miss all of ‘Bama’s spring practices.

Lacy had surgery earlier in the offseason to address turf toe problems that sidelined him off-and-on this past season.

Alabama’s backfield is loaded with talented options, capable of continuing the program’s trend under Nick Saban of building around a powerful ball carrier. Five star recruit out of Orlando’s Dr. Phillips High, Demetrius (Dee) Hart, has a prime opportunity in the Tide’s upcoming workouts to stake his claim. Rivals.com ranked Hart the nation’s top running back prospect from the 2011 class. Hart’s from a different mold then Mark Ingram, Richardson or Lacy though.

Hart stands 5-foot-9, the same height as Ingram, but 30 pounds lighter. He could provide an interesting third down and swing option, the lightning to beefy returner Jalston Fowler. At 250 pounds, Fowler is a load for defenders to try and slow, and the quintessential goal line and short yardage back.

But Fowler could factor into the hunt for top back billing. He averaged a whopping 7 yards per carry, despite being utilized in those short yardage situations.

Blake Sims also saw carries in 2011, and should factor into the spring’s rusher race. Sims was a prep quarterback, but converted to tailback after arriving in Tuscaloosa. He eclipsed 100 yards in 22 carries last season.

It’s a crowded scene indeed. Should Lacy return full recovered though, the starter’s job should be his.