He did not like having to wait last season, but he understood the responsibility of what he needed to do to make an impact.
Richard Young watched Justice Haynes, a former five-star, record 168 yards rushing and three touchdowns in 2023.
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Young came to the University of Alabama as a five-star from Lehigh Senior High School in Lehigh Acres, Fla. He knows what he brings to the table, especially the speed, power, physicality, and versatility. Kalen DeBoer named Young as one of the most consistent players in the offseason and in fall camp. He has explosiveness to him and wants to show everyone he is just as significant as Haynes and Jam Miller. Young added 15 pounds this summer, going from 200 to 215, to enhance his physicality.
Robert Gillespie, Alabama’s running backs coach, shared with Touchdown Alabama Magazine that Young is ‘hungry’ to be impactful as a redshirt freshman.
Alabama RB coach Robert Gillespie credits determination and trusting the process for former 5-star Richard Young to have a big season.
“He came out hungry in the spring. Every scrimmage situation we had, he shined. So far in fall camp, he’s done a good job.”@TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/RlFF1Q5r05
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) August 7, 2024
“He grew a lot in the spring,” Gillespie said about Young.
“Every time we had a scrimmage situation, he shined. He took his first year and watched those guys (Haynes, Miller) and it was tough for him, very humbling, but I think he came out hungry in the spring and he’s continued to have a great offseason. The summer was good to him. He took care of his body, and then he’s done a good job so far in camp. He has done a good job in blitz pickup and being physical. He is a lot bigger than people think. All he has to do is continue to work on pass protection and he’ll be fine.”
Young looked very smooth in blitz pickup during Wednesday’s practice.
He continues to show why he will be on the field more in the fall.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
