Colorado Lands Former Alabama RB Richard Young in Major Transfer Portal Coup
BOULDER, Colo. – Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have landed a marquee addition to their backfield, securing a commitment from former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Richard Young. The former four-star and consensus top-100 recruit announced his decision on January 17, 2026, choosing the Buffaloes as the destination to reboot his collegiate career after three seasons in Tuscaloosa .
The addition of Young marks a significant win for Coach Prime as he continues a massive roster overhaul in Boulder. Young, who was rated as the No. 4 running back nationally in the 2023 class, brings a combination of size, speed, and untapped potential that the Buffaloes’ running game has been sorely lacking .
For Young, the move represents a fresh start and an opportunity to finally seize the lead back role that proved elusive during his time with the Crimson Tide. He is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining after utilizing a redshirt during his true freshman season .
A High-Pedigree Back Seeking Opportunity
Young arrived at Alabama with immense fanfare, seen as a future cornerstone of the Crimson Tide’s offense . The Lehigh Acres, Florida native was not only a four-star recruit but also a standout on the track, running a reported 11.1-second 100-meter dash, which showcased the blend of power and speed that made him a national recruit .
However, playing time in a crowded Alabama backfield was difficult to come by. Over three seasons, Young appeared in 15 games, logging just 59 carries for 234 yards and five touchdowns . He added 13 receiving yards on two receptions . His most productive stretch came during the 2024 season, but even then, he was limited by a lower-body injury and the depth ahead of him on the depth chart . In 2025, he appeared in just five games, recording 64 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries .
Despite the modest statistics, scouts and analysts have consistently pointed to Young’s physical tools. Standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing between 212 and 220 pounds, he possesses a muscular build and the leg drive to run through tackles . His high school production—1,755 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior—underscores the talent he has yet to fully display at the collegiate level .
A Perfect Fit in Brennan Marion’s “Go-Go” Offense
Young’s commitment is even more intriguing when paired with the arrival of new Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. Sanders hired Marion after the 2025 season to install his innovative “Go-Go” offense, a system designed to create tempo, multiplicity, and favorable matchups for the run game .
At his previous stop as head coach at Sacramento State, Marion’s offense averaged an impressive 262.6 rushing yards per game . His scheme relies on multiple running backs and aims to establish a physical ground attack that can control the line of scrimmage while keeping defenses off balance .
Young appears to be an ideal fit for this system. His downhill running style and ability to break tackles between the tackles could be the thunder to complement the lightning of other backs in the room . Furthermore, the threat of Colorado’s passing game, anchored by quarterback Julian Lewis, could force defenses to play with lighter boxes, creating running lanes for Young to exploit .
“Young brings speed and vision to the table, giving the Buffaloes a new threat out of the backfield,” Sports Illustrated noted, highlighting the potential for immediate impact in the new scheme .
Revamping a Struggling Ground Game
The Buffaloes’ running game has been a consistent weakness under Sanders. In 2025, Colorado averaged just 125.6 rushing yards per game, ranking a dismal 104th nationally . The team failed to produce a single 1,000-yard rusher, and the inconsistency put immense pressure on the passing attack and offensive line .
With the departure of players like Dallan Hayden and Simeon Price, the need for an experienced, high-upside back became critical . The Buffaloes aggressively addressed this need via the transfer portal, adding Jaquail Smith and Damian Henderson II alongside Young, but the former Alabama back is widely viewed as the leader to win the starting job .
Young is part of a broader influx of talent that has pushed Colorado into the top 20 of the national transfer portal rankings, per 247Sports . The Buffaloes have added over 40 players this cycle, flipping what was initially a period of heavy roster turnover into a significant upgrade in talent .
A Significant Roster Shift for Alabama
Young’s departure is part of a larger exodus from Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide have seen 23 players enter the transfer portal this cycle, marking a period of significant roster churn under head coach Kalen DeBoer . While Alabama has secured commitments from top running back recruits in the 2026 class, such as Ezavier Crowell, the loss of Young removes a player who was once projected to be a key contributor .
The transfer has also broken up a hyped potential offensive pairing with quarterback Ty Simpson, which had been a source of optimism for Alabama fans .
For the Buffaloes, this is the latest in a series of high-profile additions as Coach Prime seeks to build a winner in Boulder. “The addition of an SEC-caliber running back like Young signals a clear intent to change that narrative,” Sports Illustrated reported regarding the team’s efforts to fix the run game .
With two years of eligibility remaining and a scheme that suits his skills, Richard Young is positioned to be the most impactful running back of the Deion Sanders era in Colorado .
