In the world of blue-chip high school recruiting, Richard Young was a five-star running back with offers from Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan and USC (among many, many others) and, at one time, he was ranked as high as the #15 player nationally according to the 247 composite. He finishedn his high school career as the #55 player nationally.
Fast forward three years. In the world of college football transfer recruiting, Richard Young was a middling 3-star running back with limited transfer options and he was ranked the #62 running back in the portal according to 247.
So which of these players is he?
The answer might surprise you.
Before we dive in, however, I have an admission: I’ve got a built-in skepticism when it comes to the highly touted high school recruit who turns into a college backup at a “big time” program and then hits the portal. More often than not, if a player is firmly entrenched in the two-deep, he’s not looking to exit his Power 4 program. That’s not some ironclad rule — and yes, it clearly doesn’t apply to CU (zing!) — but as broad stereotypes go, it’s one that tends to carry at least a little predictive weight.
I have seen a lot of 4 and 5-star high school recruits that don’t earn meaningful playing time at their “big time” college program decide to transfer to Colorado and then fizzle out. Think defensive linemen Jeheim Oatis (Alabama), offensive linemen Mana Taimani (Ole Miss), Payton Kirland (Texas) and Aki Ogunbiyi (Texas A&M), tight end Sam Hart (Ohio State), wide receiver Cordale Russell (TCU), linebacker Demouy Kennedy (Alabama), and defensive backs John Slaughter (Tennessee) and Jahquez Robinson (Alabama).
And while it’s true that there are up-transfers (or players that transfer from non-Power 4 teams) that didn’t work at CU, the percentage of those is lower in comparison. And right now, CU’s role model should be Indiana. The Hoosiers are the best example of a program that combines superior talent identification with the ability to attract up-transfers that have been highly successful at lower levels of college football.
Past performance, however, is not always indicative of future results. [And I don’t want to be the old guy yelling at my neighbors to cut their lawn.]. And so we welcome Richard Young to Boulder with open arms and the ultimate question – is he the player that was the #55 high school player in the country coming out of high school, or is he the player that is the #62 running back in the transfer portal?
The Vitals
Name: Richard Young
Position: Running Back
Former School: Alabama
Hometown: Lehigh Acres, Florida
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 212 lbs (per 247 – but see below)
Eligibility: Redshirt Junior (2 Years Remaining)
The Rankings
| Evaluation Period | Recruiting Service | National Rank | Position Rank | Star Rating |
| High School (2023) | ||||
| 247 Sports | #55 Overall | #4 RB | 4-star | |
| Rivals/On3 | #63 Overall | #4 RB | 4-star | |
| Portal (2026) | ||||
| 247 Sports | #721 Overall | #62 RB | 3-star | |
| On3 | #948 Overall | #85 RB | 3-sar |
The Story So Far
Richard Young was a force of nature at Lehigh Senior High in Florida. He racked up 4,421 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns over his varsity career, averaging a staggering 9.0 yards per carry. He was named to 247’s “Freaks List” because of his verified track speed (10.81 100-meter spring is MOVING) and power combination. There aren’t many 210+ pound human beings that can run a 10.81 100-meters.
Alabama signed him in the 2023 class and then did what Alabama does: stacked him behind other NFL-bodied humans. Young played in only 15 games over three years, often in late-game “mop-up” duty. While the raw totals (234 yards, 5 TDs) are modest, he did have a couple of flashes, including a 63-yard performance on just three carries against Missouri in 2024 (I’m no math major but that’s an average of 21 yards per touch). Here’s the yearly breakdown:
- 2023: 9 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD (only played in 3 games so technically this was a redshirt season, and why he has 2 years of eligibility at CU).
- 2024: 25 carries, 140 yards, 2 TD.
- 2025: 23 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD.
Watching his 2025 film showed me a couple of things. First, he was primarily used in goal-line and short-yardage situations, and his yards per carry dipped as a result. Second, he looks much bigger than 212 pounds. In fact, I bet he played closer to 230 pounds last year.
He will be CU’s biggest back this upcoming season. Want proof? Check out this photo that was making the rounds on X a couple of weeks ago:
Young looks MASSIVE. And he’s going to fit Brennan Marion’s need for a “hammer” running back.
I believe that the most significant change this offseason was the hiring of Offensive Coordinator Brennan Marion. Marion’s “Go-Go” offense uses 20-personnel (two backs) to create what Marion calls the “Three-Door” concepts.
In this system, the hammer running back back forces the defense to account for the downhill A-gap power. This is the “Downhill Door.” This then opens the play-side “Perimeter Door” for change-of-pace backs around the outside (like DeKalon Taylor or Jaquail Smith). The “Third-Door” is the QB keeper running opposite of the play-side.
At 220+ pounds, Young is perfectly suited to be the hammer back that runs the Downhill Door. He will also provide the physical presence Colorado has lacked in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Young will be a fun fit in Boulder.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths:
- One Cut and Go. Young identifies the crease, plants his foot, and gets vertical quickly. He’s a perfect fit for Brennan Marion’s “hammer back” concept.
- Contact Balance: He possesses a leg drive that allows him to run through arm tackles at the second level.
- Verified Speed: Once he reaches the second level, his track background can erase pursuit angles. See his 2024 game against Missouri for examples of this.
- Weaknesses:
- Receiving Skills: Scouts noted a tendency to “fight the ball” as a receiver out of the backfield; he needs refinement in the screen game.
- Rhythm Dependency: As a power-back, he has historically performed better with volume, which is something he hasn’t seen since high school.
YMRMFSPA…
(aka You Might Remember Me From Such Players As….) And let’s always remember to flip it and reverse it.
Ahhhh, I’m going with the old “rich man/poor man” comparison. What a copout. I hate to do this to you, Richard.
| Player | Role at CU | Physical Profile | The Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Brown | Bell-cow, downhill featured back, dominant | 6’3″, 220 lbs | I hate to compare Young to Brown, a CU legend. But if you squint your eyes while watching Young run, you’ll see Chris Brown. Brown, like Young, is an upright runner with long stride speed who punished second-level defenders. If Young becomes Brown, CU has a fourth-quarter closer who changes defensive math. |
| Darrell Scott | Five-star centerpiece recruit (2008) that never panned out | 6’0″, 230 lbs | Scott was the blueprint for hype. National No. 1 RB recruit. Looked like an NFL back stepping off the bus. But college football demands vision, conditioning, and fit — not just frame. He flashed power but never became the offense’s engine. If Young follows this arc, he’s at best a rotational power back instead of a program changer. |
Final Projections
I think Richard Young is going to be very, very good for CU. He will be the exception to the general rule that I cited above regarding backup transfers from big-time programs.
For the first time in his college career, Young will be a workhorse of the offense. He will start for CU and be a stabilizing force that allows Marion to dictate tempo.
As we proejct his final stats, we need to look at typical running back production under Brennan Marion. In an average season Brennan Marion has 4 running backs that run for over 450 yards, with two of those backs typically running for more than 750 yards. I think Young will be one of those high-production backs.
2026 Estimated Stat Line:
- Carries: 160
- Rushing Yards: 860
- Touchdowns: 8
- Yards Per Carry: 5.37
- Role: Early-down starter and high-volume “closer” in the 4th quarter.
Moar, Moar, Moar CU content!
Want to read moar (more) from BuffsBlog? Check out this piece with our way-too-early starting defense projections:
Great insight. I share your general attidue toward transfers that haven’t produced much, even if they’re highly touted. But at RB, when only 1 guy can play — unless you’re in the Go-Go — then I understand how a great player might not get a lot of snaps. So I have some sympathy for Richard Young. I”m excitd to see what he’s going to do at CU.
Question for the readers: Heading into the 2026 season, would you take a 1-for-1 swap, Richard Young out to bring Dallen Hayden back from Memphis?
Dallen better receiving threat out of the backfield. Young is likely a better fit for Marion’s scheme as noted above.