Richard Young is officially starting his second straight game at running back for Colorado this Saturday against Arizona State, a move that signals a massive shift for Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes. After last week’s game, you have to wonder what took so long for this kid to get his chance.
Young absolutely exploded in Colorado’s 27-24 overtime victory against Kansas State, racking up an insane 24 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Think about that: 120 yards and two scores after not getting more than eight carries in *any* game all season long. It was the kind of performance that makes you scratch your head and ask, “Where has this been?”
The Talent Hiding in Plain Sight
Coach Prime himself admitted there’s high-level talent on the roster that sometimes just hasn’t emerged. “We know we got talent on the roster,” Sanders said Tuesday, and Richard Young is the perfect example. This guy’s a fourth-year college player who was ESPN’s No. 22 national recruit in 2023, from Fort Myers, Florida, no less, right near Sanders’ hometown. His talent wasn’t a secret!
Sanders described other running backs in the backfield with a Three Stooges reference, saying, “You’ve seen Moe, you know, Curly, Larry, who all in the backfield,not saying they ‘The Three Stooges’, but you know what I’m saying.” He continued, “You seeing them multiple names (at running back). I can’t remember names to save my life. He hadn’t got his opportunity, a true opportunity, and he got it. And that’s the most touches he’s ever had in a college football game. So he proved that he’s more than worthy.” Young apparently didn’t throw a “pity party” about his lack of playing time, which Sanders noted he “could have, and he should have.”
When asked if Young showed something new in practice, Sanders was clear: he saw it “from the beginning.” Sometimes, you just gotta pull the trigger. “Sooner or later you gotta say, ‘He’s in,’” Sanders said. Young, for his part, loved the workload. “The more carries that I was getting, the more hungry I was getting,” he said.
Taking Pressure Off the Offense, Turning the Season Around?
This breakout couldn’t come at a better time. Young is only the *second* 100-yard rusher in Sanders’ four seasons at Colorado, with Micah Welch being the other earlier this year. Welch was injured recently, opening the door for Young, and he absolutely kicked it down. His monstrous production last week did wonders, taking immense pressure off quarterback Isaac Wilson, who managed to throw zero interceptions against Kansas State after tossing seven in his previous three starts. That’s a huge deal, especially with starting QB Julian Lewis out after a medical emergency last week. Sanders said Lewis is “doing well,” but his playing status remains unknown.
With a 3-5 start and speculation swirling about Sanders’ job security, Young’s emergence is a powerful reminder of the talent Colorado has. It might just be the answer they’ve been desperate for to turn this season around. The Buffaloes hit the road this Saturday to face Arizona State. Can Young keep this momentum rolling and lead Colorado to another crucial win?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply