Alabama football is in the second half of its season with a Southeastern Conference Championship and a College Football Playoff opportunity still alive.
The Crimson Tide’s offense is explosive, but it needs to put all its strengths together in order to become a championship team. Alabama has seen good things from Jam Miller and Justice Haynes in its running back room, but a third player is growing in confidence at the right time.
Richard Young, a redshirt freshman, arrived as a five-star from Florida in the 2023 recruiting class.
He has encountered some injuries, but Young is fully healthy at the right time and is starting to wear down opponents late in games. He’s totaled a rushing touchdown in back-to-back matchups versus LSU and Mercer. The 5-foot-11, 216-pounder is averaging over five yards per carry (5.6) and has 140 yards rushing with two scores. Nick Sheridan, Alabama’s offensive coordinator, says Young is one of the ‘most well-liked’ players on the team.
“I think toughness,” Sheridan said Monday about what Young has shown the most in his development. “I think he has a physicality. He is a decisive runner. He runs behind his pads. He’s a really great kid. He is well liked, not just by the other running backs, but by the whole team.”
Sheridan talked about one of Young’s impactful plays against the Bears last week.
“He had a very tough fourth down run,” Sheridan said. “He ran though a guy, and he’s done that. He did that back in spring practice and in training camp. He is a tough runner. He runs downhill, he’s decisive, and runs behind his pads.”
Young has an opportunity to create value for himself in matchups versus Oklahoma and Auburn going forward.
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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.
