Alabama brought in Trent Richardson on scout team to simulate Leonard Fournette

Alabama had a few special guests assist with its preparation for the LSU game.

The Crimson Tide brought in lettermen Trent Richardson and John Parker Wilson for practice last week as members of the scout team. Richardson imitated Tigers star running back Leonard Fournette while Wilson played the role of quarterback Danny Etling.

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Richardson, 25, was a star back for the Tide from 2009-2011 (rushing for 3,130 yards and 35 touchdowns) and played four years in the NFL after being selected No. 3 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 draft. Richardson was last in the NFL as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, but he was waived during training camp in August. He recently tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs, too.

Wilson, 31, was a three-year starter for the Tide from 2006-08 and bounced around the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers as a backup from 2009-2013 after going undrafted. Wilson threw for 7,924 yards, 47 touchdowns and 30 interceptions while completing 56.6 percent of his passes during his Alabama career.

Tide cornerback Marlon Humphrey said the presence of the two was helpful.

“I think Trent gave a pretty good look, and John Parker, too,” Humphrey said, per AL.com. “I tackled Trent this week, man. That’s a big guy. It’s also pretty cool just to go against those guys knowing what they’ve done for the program.”

It showed on the field. The top-ranked Tide improved to 9-0 with a 10-0 win over the Tigers in Baton Rouge and limited Fournette to a season-low 35 yards on 17 carries in the process. Etling also struggled, completing just 11-of-24 passes for 92 yards and one interception.

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This isn’t the first time the Tide have used a former player on the scout team. Coach Nick Saban brought in former quarterback Blake Sims ahead of the Texas A&M game last month to mimic mobile Aggies QB Trevor Knight. Saban said the NCAA and SEC approved the idea.

“We try to stay on top of the rules,” Saban said per Al.com “We have people in our administration who do a good job of letting us know what we can and can’t do and we would never do something like that unless we got it approved by the SEC office, which we did, and the NCAA.”

Saban’s team gets back at it at home Saturday against Mississippi State.

For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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