Richard Young staying ready for his moments in Alabama backfield

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – When Richard Young’s name was called on Saturday, he was ready.

Alabama led LSU, 35-6, in the fourth quarter in Baton Rouge, and fans started to flood out of Tiger Stadium early as the Crimson Tide’s lead on the scoreboard grew larger and larger.

Young subbed in at running back for the first time and received six carries on a 9-play, 47-yard scoring drive that drained 5:36 off the game clock. His final carry was an 8-yard touchdown run that extended the Alabama lead to 42-6 with 2:07 left to play in the league game.

It was Young’s first touchdown of the 2024 season, but he didn’t take any credit for the play.

“Man, I just wanna thank the linemen, honestly, because, without them, I wouldn’t even be able to get in the end zone the way I am now,” said Young in his first interview at Alabama.

“I’m proud of them. They got to where I’m supposed to be and everything. I thank them at the end of the day.”

Saturday night in Death Valley was Young’s fourth appearance of the season, and his six carries were tied for a career-high. His fourth-quarter score wasn’t the first of his two-year tenure, but it was his first this season and first touchdown not scored at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Young, a redshirt freshman, has been Alabama’s No. 3 running back this season behind Jam Miller and Justice Haynes. That isn’t much of a surprise given Miller and Haynes’ roles a year ago. But Young has only played when the game is well in hand in four games rather than giving the Crimson Tide a three-headed monster out of the backfield this season.

Much like his offensive line, Young praised the backs ahead of him in the pecking order.

“Justice and Jam, man, they’re top-notch,” Young said. “They’re great back, phenomenal. They do everything right in practice from Day 1. And I look up to them when we’re in practice. When they do something, I try to be at what they do. I look up to them when they get in the game. When my time comes, I’ve gotta do the same thing but better.”

Young also revealed that he dealt with an injury early in UA’s campaign, setting him back.

“I was banged up a little bit throughout the beginning of the season, but I’m back healthy,” Young said. “I’ve just gotta wait my turn, be patient. When my time comes, I’m just gonna do my thing on the field. … Now, I’m back healthy and I’m ready to go.”

Young is in his second season with the Crimson Tide after redshirting in 2023. A former 4-star recruit out of Lehigh Acres, Florida, Young was the No. 63 overall prospect, No. 4 running back and 15th-best player in Florida in the 2023 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings.

He played in three games as a freshman in 2023 but was able to maintain a year of eligibility, and Young shared what his first season at Alabama did for him in terms of development.

“It helped me develop to be a better running back,” Young said. “It made me see what the older guys do, see what they have to go through and see the work they have to put in so they get the role they wanna play. So I took that time just to develop myself and get better.”

With a year of college under his belt, Young is now seeing the field better in Year 2.

“Last year, I had to find a way to understand the holes and understand being patient when I’m running the ball,” Young said. “It took time. The redshirt year helped me a lot. 

“And now, this season, I’m starting to understand more of what the defense is doing and what a three-down is, a four-down is, a nine-technique, just all those types of things I had to learn before I had to get in that role. I had to be patient and just wait my turn.”

Young might have to wait a little longer before he receives meaningful carries in a game, but just like the Tide’s win at LSU, the second-year running back will be prepared for his chance.

“When my name is called, man, I’ve just gotta be ready,” Young said. “In practice, when my name gets called, I’ve gotta be ready. So when my coach told me, ‘Hey, Rich. Be ready,’ I was ready for my moment. 

“I prepared the right way. I did everything the right way that I was supposed to do in practice. And when my name was called, I did what I had to do.”

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