Colorado Running Back Richard Young to Start Against Arizona State

The Colorado Buffaloes will have a slight change at running back. After working with an inconsistent attack most of the season, Brennan Marion is starting to incorporate more carries out of the backfield into his Go-Go offense.

Richard Young will get another opportunity to start on Saturday. The Alabama transfer made the most of his first start for the Buffaloes during last weekend's win over Kansas State. Young will start his second straight game after putting up 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats. He had 24 carries after receiving limited playing time throughout most of the season.

Young has been one of just two 100-yard rushers during Sanders' tenure at Colorado. Ironically, both of them have come during this year under Marion's guidance. The Go-Go attack hasn't been nearly as efficient as advertised. However, this is a silver lining, which comes in the midst of CU's postseason hopes still being alive. With Micah Welch going down due to injury, Young's performance made him a stable option to boost the offense.

Sanders credited Young for his efforts to keep Colorado moving in the right direction. The Buffs snapped a five-game losing streak with the 27-24 overtime win over K-State. It was also the first Big 12 win in a year.

"He hadn't got a true opportunity, and he got it," Sanders said. "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 was an original recruit in Nick Saban's 2023 class at Alabama. The dealt with the change over in Tuscaloosa after the legendary coach announced his retirement from the sport. However, Kalen DeBoer's staff gave him limited options after 23 carries during the Tide's 2025 Playoff season. Sanders seems to have taken Alabama's misfortune and turned Young into a solid rusher. But he always felt this moment would've come.

Colorado has four changes to win three games in the final month of the season. That's the reality for the Buffs if they want to climb back into the postseason.

Young's job will be to take the load off quarterback Isaac Wilson. The Utah transfer has gotten better under center as the weeks have gone by. Will the trend continue in the final games?

Colorado enters Saturday's matchup with Arizona State at 3-5. The Buffs have luck on their side in Tempe. Outside the 2024 season, it's the only place on the road Sanders has managed to pull off a victory in conference play. But CU and ASU were in the Pac-12 when it happened in 2023.