Click here for linkAuburn, Ala. --Maybe Alabama's Trent Richardson can turn the Iron Bowl into a showcase for the Heisman Trophy and other national awards.
Perhaps Auburn's Mike Dyer can simply shine on the national scene once again.
The tailbacks are the Southeastern Conference's top two rushers going into Saturday's Iron Bowl, but they haven't exactly shared the spotlight this season.
That's shined squarely on Richardson, especially since South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore sustained a season-ending injury. The second-ranked Crimson Tide's star, a finalist for the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards, insists he's not banking on using this game to boost his credentials for those honors or the Heisman.
"I don't think of the Heisman race when it comes to this," Richardson said. "I'm just worried about this ballgame here. I just know when I do get out there I have to showcase everything I've got."
He and Dyer are both powerful, compact runners who have both been the centerpieces of their offenses. They're both having pretty good years, too.
Richardson has run for 1,380 yards and 20 touchdowns, joining former Heisman-winning quarterbacks Cam Newton and Tim Tebow as the only SEC players to score that many in a season.
Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof said Richardson is "on a very short list" of top runners he has faced.
"I've either played against or coached against some great backs, but he breaks a lot of tackles and he's a guy we've got to control," Roof said
Dyer is no slouch.
He has gained 1,194 yards and 10 touchdowns — on seven fewer carries — though he's labored behind a patchwork offensive line. The offensive MVP of the national championship game as a freshman, he's the first Auburn running back to start his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
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