a fully-rejuvenated Alfred Blue has shot back to the top of the depth chart, opening as LSU's starting RB for two seasons in a row. Entering 2012, Blue beat out two juniors who had played much more than him in 2011 and in 2010 in Michael Ford and Spencer Ware as well as Kenny Hilliard and Jeremy Hill. Blue dazzled everybody, becoming the first LSU back to open the season with back-to-back 100 yard games since 2008 and ranking #2 in the SEC in rushing before going down to injury. According to his teammates, he's back even faster and stronger before ever before:

FB J.C. Copeland: "He's better all around than last year, his speed, his strength, everything."

LB Lorenzo Phillips: "He's been looking even faster than he was."

LB D.J. Welter on a 40-yard run Blue had during practice: "It was like he was shot out of a cannon."

Miles: "He's got the ability to make you miss and run over you."

QB Mettenberger: “If Alfred Blue didn’t get hurt last year a lot of people wouldn’t know who Jeremy Hill was,” said Mettenberger at SEC Media Days last month in Hoover, Ala. “… Having Alfred back and showing what he’s capable of doing is going to be something I’m going to enjoy watching...He can be a threat to every dimension of the defense. He can catch the ball, he can block, he’s smart and obviously everybody saw what he can do running the ball.”

OG Josh Williford: "He wanted last year to be a breakout year...It's got to be painful (to have injury ruin your season)...I could see the pain."

Blue:
--"Sitting out the whole season after ACL knee surgery was hard, man"
--"It was just hard sitting out there for the Clemson game and the rest of the season, especially the games we lost."
--"I'm real eager to get out there after sitting out a whole year," Blue said, smiling. "I can feel it. The countdown is just beginning.
--"I'll wait until game day to talk," he said. "It's game time. It ain't spring and it ain't camp no more. We're tying in on TCU."
--"I’m real excited"

LSU CAREER STATS
A. Blue -- 138 carries (6.6 YPC), 910 yards, 10 TD
Hilliard -- 144 carries (5.6 YPC), 800 yards, 14 TD
J. Hill -- 142 carries (5.3 YPC), 755 yards, 12 TD
T. Magee -- 28 carries (4.8 YPC), 133 yards, 1 TD

Before the injury to Blue, I said that of all the RB's, he would have the best shot in the NFL. Best of luck to him in his last season at LSU...............starts Saturday Night.......

Alfred Blue is another Marshall Faulk. If he stays healthy, he'll have that kind of a pro career.

You my boy Blue! Just stay healthy.

Love that phrase. You stole my post, lol.

damn I didn't realize Magee had 28 carries and a TD.

Blue reminded me of knowshon Moreno.

Hilliard is much lighter this year which should help.

36 hours!!

Like most Tiger fans, I was a little late in realizing the magnitude of Blue's talent. If he somehow has a career like Marshall Faulk, then I'm still underrating his talent.

In the little video I have seen from practice I think Blue and Hillard are both going to be awesome. Throw Hill in the mix and I would hate to be having to tackle the "TRIPLE THREAT" with fresh legs all night. Those Defenses are going to begging for the pain to stop!