Alabama players, coaches 'excited' to see more opportunities for Richard Young
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With Alabama running back Justice Haynes leaving the team this bowl season by way of the transfer portal, more opportunities have become available to younger running backs lower on the depth chart. One of the biggest beneficiaries of Haynes’ departures will be redshirt freshman Richard Young.
Young and Haynes both came to Alabama as part of the 2023 recruiting class, and were both rated as top-5 running backs in the cycle. Haynes emerged ahead of Young on the depth chart, and was essentially a co-starter this year with Jam Miller while Young served as the top reserve.
Haynes totaled 448 yards and seven touchdowns on 79 carries this season, freeing up plenty of opportunities for Young in the ReliaQuest Bowl later this month and beyond.
“Rich will be ready to go just like he always is,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said. “He’s a strong running back, does a lot of things. We’ll be excited to have all of those guys be incorporated into the game plan. Everyone else just, when they have someone leave at their position, more opportunities that you can take advantage of. So yeah, certainly excited to have Rich highlighted more with more opportunities in practice and games to show everyone what he can do.”
Young made appearances in six games for Alabama this season, mostly coming on mop-up duty, but looking the part when he got to play.
He racked up 140 yards and two touchdowns on his 25 carries during the regular season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The Alabama coaching staff has expressed immense trust in Young’s abilities, and acknowledged how he’s taken advantage of the opportunities he’s already been given.
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“We have a lot of trust in Richard,” offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said. “He’s maximized the opportunities that he’s had so far this fall. We have full trust and confidence with him in the game to do his job and do it at a high level.”
Miller, the leader in the backfield both for the bowl game and in 2025 with the announcement of his return for his senior season, emphasized the ‘next man up’ mentality instilled not just in the running back room, but throughout the entire team.
“Coach always says it’s the next guy up,” Miller said. “One guy gets injured or anything, it’s the next guy up. Richard, he’ll be getting more reps, getting more confidence in his game. All we got is all we need.”
With Young set to be back for his redshirt sophomore season in 2025, he’ll step into a much larger role behind Miller’s lead. The bowl game against Michigan will provide Alabama fans with a preview of what that backfield will look like next year, and everything they have to get excited about.
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